We took our 4 year old to "BIG Church" for the first time yesterday. It was a last minute thing. We were running late and when we were getting out of the car he said he wanted to go to church with us. We figured why not? It really hadn't occurred to me that we had not taken him before. I mean, of course he went many times when he was a baby, but as long as he can remember he has gone to Sunday School and we go to church. (My 7 year old just started going to church with us this year.)
So when we come in the singing has already started. We join in and after a few minutes the pastor comes forward and says something to the effect of "Please find someone you would like to meet and go shake their hand this morning." So my 4 year old, who happens to be sitting on the aisle takes off running to the stage. I happen to be on the far other end of the row with my other 2 kids and my husband between me and the aisle and a gave my husband a desperate look that said "GO AFTER HIM!" My husband dashes off and catches him just as he hit the top step to the stage. He brings him back to our row. My other 2 kids and I were laughing so hard I thought we were going to explode! (I haven't laughed that hard in church since my daughter was 3 and singing in the Christmas pageant and decided to perform her own ballet performance while on stage! LOL)
Next it is time to pray. My 4 year old, who is still sitting on the aisle kneels in the aisle, put his hands together and then puts his head to the ground. He stays in this position throughout the prayer, much to the delight of everyone seated around us.
Now it's time to pass the offering plate. Remember my 4 year old is one the aisle. So when the usher comes to pass the plate my son jumps up and wants to shake hands with the nice man who is handing him a plate of money. Then he proceeds to flick his fingers through the plate to see what exactly was in there! LOL (I can only imagine he is looking for a $20.00. I mean if they are passing a plate full of money you want to take a $20.00 right?) My husband quickly explained that the plate was for putting money in NOT taking it out!
Time for some more singing. About 20 minute into the service little man works his way down the aisle to me. He leans over and whispers "Is there going to be snack?" I smiled, thinking for a moment how in the world he would react to Communion if this happened to be a Communion day! LOL Then I told him NO there would not be snack. He thought for a moment and then said "My class has snack. I like snack. I am ready to go to my own class now." LOL
So he and I head out of the sanctuary. When we get into the hallway I ask him why he wanted to go onto the stage. He said "Well Mom, the man said to shake hands with someone you would like to meet and I wanted to meet the 3 guys with guitars on the stage!" ROFL!!!!
I guess there are a couple of ways I could look at this. I could be upset with him that he didn't do things the way he was "supposed" to. But, instead I started thinking about the lessons I could learn from him. It reminded me of a sermon our pastor in California gave many years ago when he was talking about the early Christians and how they would have worshiped. He said something to the effect of "How would Christians worship if they didn't know how they are "supposed" to act?"
So here are the things my 4 year old made me think of yesterday...
- How many times have I seen a friend of mine up on the stage in the praise team and just meekly waved at them during the greeting time instead of dashing up there and giving a big hug? (Which may have been just what we both needed!)
- How many times have I felt like kneeling down on the floor and pouring out everything to God, but instead stood tall and held everything in so I wouldn't draw attention to myself?
- How many times have I had a financial need and it never occurred to me to turn to the church?
I can only imagine what worship would look like if we followed the lead of my little man and worshiped from our hearts. What if we didn't follow what has been put into our heads through years of training and just poured our hearts and love out to the Lord instead? Wow, what a thing that would be! Who knows, maybe we would even include a snack?
Happy Homeschooling,
Jamin
Comments
Oct. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Tricia
What a lovely post!! The first part brought a smile to my face at life with a 4yo and the last part warmed my heart. Such a wonderful way to look at the day!
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Oct. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Elinor
Oh how adorable!!! Kids do the funniest things, but it's always so sincere and from the heart. I suppose that's why God said that if we come to Him "as a little child"...etc. He loves it too! Imagine the smile on God's face when your son went running for those guitar players....totally out of a genuine desire to shake their hands!
Thanks for sharing such a sweet story.
Elinor
http://elinorandedward.blogspot.com
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Oct. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
How precious!!! This blessed my heart so much and I'm sure that it blessed everyone at church too! Blessings to you!
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Oct. 27, 2008 - Oh I love that lesson -
Posted by tn3jcarter
"How would Christians worship if they didn't know how they are "supposed" to act?"
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Oct. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Oh I LOVED this one. So funny and so true. I LOVE 4 year olds too. :)
JR
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Oct. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by inspiteofme
I've re-read your post quite a few times, I just wanted to let you know that it touched me greatly! How many times are we too worried about how we "look" rather than "shameless" worship? Our pastor did a series in October called "With Everything" and bascially it was about worshipping God with everything we've got. We don't sing because we're afraid that we sound dumb, or we can't sing good (get in line!). We worry someone's looking at us, etc etc etc. It was such a profound teaching...yet your post just reiterated what pastor talked about! Oh, how the young and the "formally educated" are so much alike!!!
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Oct. 30, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I read this, knowing that in March, when DD turns 4, we will have to start bringing her into the service with us. Right now she goes to toddler church. At 4, the kids are expected to come in with the family and quietly worship and sit through the sermon. When my older DDs were that age, they went to Children's church. We don't have that anymore because of a lack of volunteers. Several people just bring crayons or other little things to occupy their kids. But my DD has a little quirk. When she has to concentrate, she makes this loud buzzing sound in the back of her throat with a closed mouth. We have all gotten used to it and tend to tune it out. I doubt that I can convince my entire church to tune her out! So, I anticipate I will be missing a lot of sermons in the near future.
Blessings.
http://larsonchsa.blogpot.com
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