I've watched mothers with small children in church for years. All of my life actually. So, of course, the moment I found out a little one was on the way, I decided to do my best to make sure he/she stayed in the sanctuary as much as possible every single service. Afterall, it had always looked easy when other people did it.
It is NOT easy.
It is especially hard for those of us involved in ministry. Some weeks we are literally at the church every single night. On Sunday mornings, I usually rush into church at 8:15 a.m., with my arms overflowing, already exhausted. If I'm not praise singing that day, I'll spend the service bouncing and swaying trying to get Drayton asleep, or constantly pulling toys out of my diaper bag for him to play with, or even letting him dig in my purse or diaper bag since that is usually a good source of quiet entertainment. I wince everytime he cries or decides to babble during the sermon. I feel like everyone is staring at me everytime he sqeals because he thinks pastor is talking only to him. I'm sure not everyone is looking, but it feels that way. I often leave the service wondering what my pastor preached about and asking myself "is this worth it?" Only to return four hours later and do it all over again.
A few weeks ago my sister-in-law posted on facebook about one of my sweet nieces inviting a visiting child to sit with her and saying "I'll be your friend." There's another little girl who sits in front of me and at almost 2 years old, claps and raises her little hands to worship. As frustrating as it sometimes is, things like this further my determination not to send my child to the nursery. Not because I have anything against the nursery; I think nurseries are wonderful things...most definitely for parents who haven't been raised in church and are still trying to figure out how to walk with God. My reason for not sending Drayton is that I want him to have respect for worship and the house of God from a very young age.
As mothers, it is our duty to help ensure that years down the road, the church pews will not be empty. It helps when throughout a child's life, they feel they are a vital, participating member of their church.
As hard as it is to keep our babies in the sactuary as much as we can, we can't forget that we are doing something really, really important. Its only a couple years of work and we will be rewarded with children who know that regardless of age, their prayers are important to God. We will get to experience old, familiar Bible stories all over again through their little eyes and minds. Do you remember the first time you learned about David and Goliath? Jonah and the big fish? I'm sure my heart will leap the first time I see Drayton raise his little hands to worship.
Personally, I want to be an example to my son of one who wholeheartedly worships the Lord. My prayer is that through watching his dad and I, he would likewise catch the vision. I want him to hear powerful sermons as often as he hears the soft instruction of a Sunday School teacher.
"Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known anything, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it." Deuteronomy 31:12-13
"Then there were brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Suffer litte children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'" Matthew 19:13-14
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