Not every ministry family looks the same. And thank God for that.

Some spouses share a stage. Some sit together, front and center. Others sit in the middle of the room, clutching coffee and wrangling toddlers. Some feel like they were born for this, others feel like they were dragged into it — and still others feel called, but just plain tired.

Our family doesn’t fit a perfect mold, but we’ve learned to embrace our calling together — messy seasons and all.

A fifteen-second video of two waddling ducks, featuring a spontaneous voiceover featuring some strong Midwest accents from Taylor and me, has now been viewed over 775,000 times and liked more than 50,000 times. I’ve hilariously gained hundreds of new followers — all because two disgruntled ducks waddled down my street and into my life.

Think about the people who have shaped your life — not just the ones with an official title, but the ones who simply showed up. Maybe it was a teacher who encouraged you at just the right time. A coach who saw potential in you before you saw it yourself. A boss who took the extra time to teach you something valuable. Or maybe it was just a neighbor, a small group leader, or a friend who was present when you needed guidance.

Our relationships impact every area of life. Whether at home, in friendships, or at work, the quality of our connections influences our joy, our resilience, and even our ability to accomplish our goals. When relationships are strong, life is fuller. When they are weak or neglected, everything feels harder. Prioritizing relationships and connection is a productivity hack many leaders are afraid of.