This is something i've been thinking about a lot lately (probably because i am one!), but i've noticed some things that are apparently different in the life of a person who is the child of a preacher. [Funny thing is, i'm not just a Preacher's kid, but i am also a Missionary kid as well as a home-schooled kid (mostly elementary), so i should really be one of the craziest/strangest people you've met, stereo typically.]
1. Mistakes Stand Out
Let's look at Person A and B. Person A is a non-preacher's kid, while Person B is a preacher's kid. They both are given the same situation/circumstances. However, if Person A reacts negatively to his situation, it is deemed a 'normal response' while if Person B reacts in the same negative manner, it is seen as a crime of some sort. Now i am not saying that one kid is better than the other, but it almost seems as if having the label of a 'preacher's kid' grants that person a sort of 'not capable of doing wrong' perspective from other's eyes. It's as if the 'bar of expectations' is immediately raised for a preacher's kid in relation to everyone around them.
Over the course of time, this has begun to make a lot of sense to me. From a non-preacher's kid perspective, you would expect a PK to be a lot more like their father/pastor figure, but the reality is: they are just another person. Sure, they might be raised differently, but we all learn and experience things in a similar manner anyway, even if it is through mistakes.
2. Some People Put On "Face" Around You
This one probably gets to me the most. i can't say i speak for all Preacher's Kids when i say this, but i just want to have people be their real selves when they are around me. i don't want their behavior to temporarily change just because they are around a 'preacher's kid' so they have to act all 'churchy' when we hang out.
Adults. i've noticed this a lot in some of them, too. If they see a preacher's kid, they usually change their behavior around them as well (i guess it's because they fear that if they make a mistake, the kid will tattle to the pastor and then they will be seen as horrible in the pastor's eyes). Other times it is as if they expect me to brag on them to my Dad (their pastor) if they speak of something 'seemingly significant' on a church-related subject. (Granted, i usually brag about the amazing things that people do anyway. i just don't always let that person know i bragged about them.)
3. Whatever Biblical Knowledge/Desire You Have Is Expected
If someone meets someone who is consistently reading their Bible and seeking the things of God, they may be impressed or even inspired. However, i've noticed usually that if that person is a preacher's kid, it's seen more in the light of 'they are supposed to do that, it's not like they have a choice.' The truth is: we do.
Any person can have the choice to learn more about God. Some people will devote many hours a day to learn and others will devote many more hours a day to not learn. That's fine.
Sometimes i feel like less of an impact on others' lives because the answers/advice i give them based on the questions that they ask me is 'expected.' (i usually get this response, "i'm glad you're a preacher's kid, cuz i don't know who would know that." .....any Christ-following Christian would have an answer for you!) It's almost as if being a preacher's kid is a "Title" that grants knowledge and abilities that non-preacher's kids can not have.
There have been a few points in my life that i wished that i was not a preacher's kid, so that my desire/knowledge of the Bible would seem more impressive and inspiring to others...but i can't be sure that if i grew up not being a preacher's kid, that i would even be interested in the Bible.
Although these are just a glimpse of the things that i've realized in my life, i am aware that there are many more things that a preacher's kid experiences and can expect to encounter in their lifetime.
