Working Together

       The Lord has blessed me in so many ways over the years, but one of those special blessings has been the opportunity to minister as a team with my wife for about 53 years.  This includes working together in a family ministry for 25 years, in Awana for 33 years, in leading music and hymn sings for many years, in things such as leading departments in Sunday School and preparing offertories for church, as well as numerous other situations.  It is always been a special experience.
          Working as a team just doesn't always work for many spouses.  Sometimes differences in gifts or personalities or opinions just prevent this from working smoothly.  We've known some who tried, but were much more successful doing their "own things".  God still used them, just separately.
         Recently I read a story about a situation involving a wife and husband that didn't have a "smooth" ending.  They were an "interesting team".  Hopefully it is just a story and not a real life situation.  Enjoy!
          A police officer pulls over a speeding car.  The officer says, "Sir, I clocked you at 80 mph. sir."  The driver says, "But officer, I had it on cruise control at 60, perhaps your radar needs calibrating."
          Not looking up from her knitting the wife says sweetly, "Now don't be silly dear, you know that this car doesn't have cruise control."  As the officer writes out the ticket, the driver looks over at his wife and growls, "Can't you keep your mouth shut for once?"
          The wife smiles demurely and says, "You should be thankful your radar detector went off when it did."  As the officer makes out the second ticket for the illegal radar detector unit, the man glowers at his wife and says through clenched teeth, "Come on, woman, can't you keep your mouth shut!"
           The officer frowns and says, "And I notice that you're not wearing your seat belt, sir. That's an automatic $75 fine."  The driver says, "Yeah, well you see officer, I had it on, but took it off when you pulled me over so I could get my license out of my back pocket."
           The wife says," Now dear you know very well you didn't have your seat belt on. You never wear your seat belt when you're driving."
           And as the police officer is writing out the third ticket the driver turns to his wife and barks, "WHY DON'T YOU JUST BE QUIET??"
           The officer looks over at the woman and asks, "Does your husband always talk to you this way, Ma'am?"
          "Oh heavens no, officer," she sweetly replies, "only when he's been drinking."