Training

Yesterday, my son and I went to church for the first time in several months. Thanks to God waking me up, we even got there in time for Sunday school! My sister and brother-in-law visited the church that I went to as a teenager--and that my parents still attend--last week, so we decided to go to church with them and with my parents.

Anyway, I dropped my son off in the nursery and while he was clingy at first, after his traditional two hugs and a few kisses, he was good to go. We had a great classtime in Sunday school and then it was time for service. I picked my son up from the nursery letting the nursery workers know that I would be bringing him back once the message began.

I love to have my son in the music part of "big" service for many reasons. First of all, I believe music is the first way that children learn to praise God. Secondly, at the beginning of the service there are announcements and prayers, so this gives my son a reasonably short amount of time to begin to practice being quiet and respectful during service. And finally, I train myself during this time too!

That may not make sense at first glance, but it's true! I need just as much training at having him with me during service as he needs at being in service. See, I'll find myself getting bored and start playing with him. This completely contradicts every "Shh" and "No" I say to him. If I am to train him to be respectful during church, that it is not a time of play, but of worship, then I must first set an example by not only being respectful and worshiping, but also by not making him my toy.