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This morning, Sunday school classes were cancelled at our church. There was still worship service and the nursery was still open for those under two but if we wanted to attend services today, we went in knowing that Abby would be with us. Last time she was in with us, we struggled. She was about a year and a half old and couldn't sit still or be quiet when it was necessary. We ended up spending so much of our time entertaining her, walking around outside of the sanctuary, exploring the building. Either Wes or I was distracted 100% of the service. It was not the chance to recharge, reconnect, or worship that we needed. It was not an opportunity for us to grow in our faith.
But my anxiety made me hesitate to put her in the nursery. Could someone else really take care of her how I could? Could they really be trusted to get me if she cried, to keep her allergens away from her, to foster her growth? We'd just had a very poor experience at a MOPS group at another church which had left Abby crying so hard she couldn't be calmed down for several minutes. They had clearly let her get far too worked up before paging me. Which left me even more hesitant than before to leave her with someone else. We took the step of faith though and G-d rewarded us richly. Abby loves her class and has grown so much, more than I ever could have taught her on my own. Wes and I have been given the chance to connect as a couple during worship and to grow in our faith.
Since then, we've added another member to our family and far earlier than with Abby, we've also entrusted him to the nursery staff. After proving that I could handle passing off my baby, and the staff could be trusted to keep them alive and away from the things they couldn't handle eating, we decided to see how our independent baby handled being away from Mama. Which again, left us on our own in the service.
We've both enjoyed getting to grow in that way and to spend an hour to ourselves, kid free, each week. Life hasn't allowed us date nights at this season so this small chance has been a nice break from parenthood. And it gives us something to talk about that isn't work or children.
Going into today's service, I think Wes and I were both a little unsure of what would happen. But we came prepared with coloring implements, blocks, a number puzzle, snacks... And we hoped for the best.
It. Was. Incredible. Not only did Abby listen quite well, quiet down when she asked questions too loudly, and do her best to pay attention to what was going on, Wes and I delighted in having her with us. She was curious, she was faith-filled, she was present. While we did take some time during the sermon to give her the tour of the church she requested, it did my mama heart some serious good to see her growing in her faith like that. To pray with my daughter, to get a foretaste of what her future might hold.
Finally, it was the first Sunday of the month, which at our church means communion. Communion is open to all who profess Christ as their Saviour, who have asked Him into their hearts. And although she's only three and a half, Abby has done that. She has Jesus in her heart and has the most precious child-like faith. When I realized this morning that it was communion Sunday, I quickly had to decide whether we'd allow her to participate. Who am I to hold her back? If asked whether she has Jesus in her heart, she will tell you emphatically YES. She will tell you that she's going to Heaven after she dies to be with Jesus and that He died to save her from her sins. Is her faith fully mature? No, of course not. But she has the basis, she has a foundation. Her life is being built upon the Rock of His Salvation and I will not be the one to tell her she can't partake of His body and His blood because she's not old enough.
And let me tell you, more than praying with my daughter, more than sitting beside her and worshipping with her, taking communion with her, watching her eat the bread and drink the grape juice, knowing that her salvation is assured, that someday we'll be together in Heaven... Oh I can't explain to you the way that filled my heart.
While we don't intend to keep Abby out of her Sunday school class every week, we do intend to bring her in more often. Our job as parents is to train our children up and to lead them to Christ. Seeing them start to come to that faith, to mature was sweet balm to my heart in all the chaos that motherhood and life can sometimes bring.
But my anxiety made me hesitate to put her in the nursery. Could someone else really take care of her how I could? Could they really be trusted to get me if she cried, to keep her allergens away from her, to foster her growth? We'd just had a very poor experience at a MOPS group at another church which had left Abby crying so hard she couldn't be calmed down for several minutes. They had clearly let her get far too worked up before paging me. Which left me even more hesitant than before to leave her with someone else. We took the step of faith though and G-d rewarded us richly. Abby loves her class and has grown so much, more than I ever could have taught her on my own. Wes and I have been given the chance to connect as a couple during worship and to grow in our faith.
Since then, we've added another member to our family and far earlier than with Abby, we've also entrusted him to the nursery staff. After proving that I could handle passing off my baby, and the staff could be trusted to keep them alive and away from the things they couldn't handle eating, we decided to see how our independent baby handled being away from Mama. Which again, left us on our own in the service.
We've both enjoyed getting to grow in that way and to spend an hour to ourselves, kid free, each week. Life hasn't allowed us date nights at this season so this small chance has been a nice break from parenthood. And it gives us something to talk about that isn't work or children.
Going into today's service, I think Wes and I were both a little unsure of what would happen. But we came prepared with coloring implements, blocks, a number puzzle, snacks... And we hoped for the best.
It. Was. Incredible. Not only did Abby listen quite well, quiet down when she asked questions too loudly, and do her best to pay attention to what was going on, Wes and I delighted in having her with us. She was curious, she was faith-filled, she was present. While we did take some time during the sermon to give her the tour of the church she requested, it did my mama heart some serious good to see her growing in her faith like that. To pray with my daughter, to get a foretaste of what her future might hold.
Finally, it was the first Sunday of the month, which at our church means communion. Communion is open to all who profess Christ as their Saviour, who have asked Him into their hearts. And although she's only three and a half, Abby has done that. She has Jesus in her heart and has the most precious child-like faith. When I realized this morning that it was communion Sunday, I quickly had to decide whether we'd allow her to participate. Who am I to hold her back? If asked whether she has Jesus in her heart, she will tell you emphatically YES. She will tell you that she's going to Heaven after she dies to be with Jesus and that He died to save her from her sins. Is her faith fully mature? No, of course not. But she has the basis, she has a foundation. Her life is being built upon the Rock of His Salvation and I will not be the one to tell her she can't partake of His body and His blood because she's not old enough.
And let me tell you, more than praying with my daughter, more than sitting beside her and worshipping with her, taking communion with her, watching her eat the bread and drink the grape juice, knowing that her salvation is assured, that someday we'll be together in Heaven... Oh I can't explain to you the way that filled my heart.
While we don't intend to keep Abby out of her Sunday school class every week, we do intend to bring her in more often. Our job as parents is to train our children up and to lead them to Christ. Seeing them start to come to that faith, to mature was sweet balm to my heart in all the chaos that motherhood and life can sometimes bring.