While visiting your church last Sunday my husband and I had the privilege of sitting behind your beautiful family. It warmed my heart to see young people worshiping the Lord and I want you to know how proud I am of you and your husband for obeying Christ's command to “Bring the little children unto Me.” You are so blessed. It was obvious that you were working hard to teach your kiddos to sit still and be quiet. I also know that you were embarrassed when they didn't cooperate.
I wish there was some way I could have stopped time so I could reach across the pew to give you a hug of assurance. Although it's hard to grasp now, everything is going to be okay. Your wormy toddlers will grow up. And all too soon.
As Albert and I knelt in prayer, one of your children was playing peek-a-boo with us. It melted my heart. As those beautiful eyes met mine, my husband took my hand. I turned and recognized the look in Albert's eye: your son managed to find the place in my lifemate's heart that misses the time of life you are now experiencing. Yup, you heard me right. We miss it.
I know that's hard to believe, but you see, my dear, it seems like only yesterday that we were wrestling with less than willing short people in an effort to teach them about Our Lord.
It can't have been longer than the blink of an eye since we took on the seemingly simple, weekly ritual of attending church with small children. Over the years the task increased in complexity as our family grew until, after our fourth son was born, Albert and I were suddenly faced with something completely unexpected (besides the fact that no one asked us over for lunch anymore): we could no longer completely separate the kids at church. We quickly settled into the routine of sitting in “our pew,” close to the front of the church (so the boys could “see”) with a pillar on the left side so one of them couldn't shinny unnoticed out the end. Then, as our lives changed, we began to attend another, smaller church were we filled a whole pew. I ended up sitting on one end and Albert on the other. Sort of pew-sentinels. As often as not, it seemed that all the grace I received from attending had leaked out by the time the final blessing was given. Instead of listening, my attention was turned, time and time again, to correcting recalcitrant young'uns. Get up, sit down, sit still, shush, don't touch your brother, don't look at him, don't breathe on him. So much went into the simple act of taking small people to church.
So much went into bringing my children up to know the Lord.
It's strange how seeing other Moms with their young children brings back so many poignant memories. Please believe me when I say that your kids' behavior bothers you more than it does me. I know how hard it is to convince the youngsters to sit still and be quiet for a whole hour. But I'm also old enough to know another secret: like my children before them, your babies are just one of God's ways of teaching their parents patience. The funny thing is, I don't find your delightful little distractions a disturbance the way my own children disturbed me when committing the same offenses. More often than not I'm amused when your little ones wriggle and squirm, chatter and cry, clap, sing and sometimes sleep. Those little ones are just acting on the same feelings we all have at one time or another at church: the only difference is that, as adults, we've had our objections socialized into a more quiet place in our hearts while they make their lack of willingness to be quiet or still one minute longer known to all. Adults and small children…we're really not that different.
Your children are a joy, not a bother.
Please know that the sight of your family in the pew in front of us reminds me just how grateful I am for all those times I spent in Church, teaching my kiddos about the love of God.
So the next time you worry about how much your kids are disturbing the rest of us, please remember, we've been there, too. Keep up the good work, give your little ones a hug and a kiss, and continue to teach them how much Jesus loves them…
…because, one day, all too soon, it will be you and your husband remembering, enjoying a young family sitting in front of you at Church. Thanks again for sharing your little bit of heaven with us.
May the Lord guard, guide and direct you.
© Copyright 2004 Catholic Exchange
Jackie Zimmerer is a wife and mother of four sons. She attends St. John's Catholic Church in the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.
