Dear Parents with Young Children in Church...
You are
doing something really, really important.
I know it's not easy. I see you with your arms overflowing, and I know you came
to church already tired. Parenting is tiring.
Really tiring.
I watch you bounce and sway trying to keep the baby quiet,
juggling the infant car seat and the diaper bag as you find a seat. I see you
wince as your child cries. I see you anxiously pull things out of your bag of
tricks to try to quiet them.
And I see you
with your toddler and your preschooler. I watch you cringe when your little
girl asks an innocent question in a voice that might not be an inside voice let
alone a church whisper. I hear the exasperation in your voice as you beg your child to just sit, to be quiet as
you feel everyone's eyes on you. Not everyone is looking, but I know it feels
that way.
I know
you're wondering, is this worth it? Why do I bother? I know you often leave
church more exhausted than fulfilled. But what you are doing is so important.
When you are
here, the church is filled with a joyful noise. When you are here, the Body of
Christ is more fully present. When you are here, we are reminded that this
worship thing we do isn't about bible study or personal, quiet contemplation
but coming together to worship as a community where all are welcome, where we
share in the Word and Sacrament together. When you are here, I have hope that
these pews won't be empty in 10 years when your kids are old enough to sit quietly and behave in
worship. I know that
they are learning how and why we worship now, before it's too late. They are
learning that worship is important.
