I have read Parenting in the Pew and was really convicted to keep my children with me in church so I can work on teaching them how to worship. The first months went wonderfully. The two older boys are, of course, able to sit for an hour and a half, but this is a real stretch for five-year-old ants-in-his-pants AJ. He did well at first since the whole experience was new and intriguing, but now I have the occasional Sundays when we spend an awful lot of time making trips to the bathroom, and he has a hard time keeping his arms down, staniding all the way up when we sing, and not telling me in the middle of the sermon that he left his Lego guy (that I didn't even know he had!) in his Sunday School class.
Today was just a complete adventure. There were the normal things--flapping like a bird, spinning in his seat (How many times did he turn around before I realized what he was doing?), and kissing me on the hand. He also decided to lift the smock on my dress, tell me in the middle of a hymn that his shoe was untied, and sit on his Bible (not your usual oops, I sat on my Bible--more like, hey look, I'm two inches taller when I sit on the Bible!). But the moment when I wasn't sure whether to laugh or take him out and spank him was when I looked over and he had his shirt completely unbuttoned. He was undressing in church! I just reminded him that this was not the place to undress and told him to button back up. I want to carry a sign: "Child Worship Training in Progress. Sit near at your own risk! (And please be patient)" But I think most people have figured it out already. Please tell me he really is learning how to worship from all this! I'm hoping I'm at least setting the example (when I'm not wearing my frowny "no" face, or shaking my head at him. |
• Jan. 9, 2006 - Untitled Comment
I know - it can be done. I just find that it's not worth it. It distracts me and it distracts those around me. I've had the arguement many times with many people and have come to the conclusion that each of us has to find our own "comfort zone" with how and when to teach them to "be still" during a church service.
For me, I'm gratefully indebted to those who do the Jr. Church program for our 4 - 8 year olds. Our children stay upstairs with us, through the song service, and then go down to Jr. church just before the message starts. Jr. Church has scripture and stories geared toward their level, helping them learn, letting them worship at their level.
There is a time to every purpose under heaven -- maybe this just isn't AJ's time yet. In time, he will, however, see Big Brothers doing it and will be inclined to do it, if for no other reason than not wanting to be left out. And when his time comes, you've already set the example with the two older boys.
That's my 2cents worth, for what it's worth.