I don't know if any of you have children, but getting them to stay still for long periods of time can be challenging at times. Today we decided to go to 11am Mass (sometimes switching with 9:30am Mass), but Emma slept till 9 and it gave us a little more time to get ready. Even with the extra time we still got to Mass minutes before it started. We normally "flock" to the cryroom, but last week we went to a church out of town and were very successful. This morning we were trying to repeat, but were not as successful.
Emma, our two year old, is very much an extrovert. Actually she is more like a "ham" as they call it. Once we sat in the pews and Mass began she started pointing out to everyone where "Jeesie" was, which normally is cute but not during the opening prayer or even through to the Gospel:). She was pitching a fit because the girl behind us had a book and she wanted it. At this point people are turning around to look at us. Did I forget to mention she is welcoming all the people who came in late. Yes, she was doing "What Jesus Would Do", but I guess my pride got the best of me and I did not want her to disturb others. She started pitching another fit so we decided to go into the cryroom. The cryroom which can be a great tool, but tends to be more of a distraction to me now. Our church is so beautiful, but there are no windows in the cryroom. I feel so separated from Jesus. I feel like I'm in a room listening to a "play by play" of Mass. Not to mention for some it has become a "social". I often try to stand in the window of the doors so I can actually feel a part of the Miracle inside. It often brings me back to the days when I could fully participate in Mass, and actually remember the readings. At this time the devil works on me and says, "why do you come when you don't even get to participate"? Thank God, the Holy Spirit quickly kicks me in the behind and reminds me there is nowhere else in the world I would want to be...thank you Holy Spirit! As not only parents, but catholic parents it is our duty and responsibility to bring our children to church each Sunday, and we do. God will provide the grace to get through it. Even though I got frustrated thinking she was being bad, she was actually doing what Jesus calls us to do: Be like children, welcome and love others, but most of all bring others closer to Jeesie....Isn't that what it's all about. Maybe I was the one who was not doing what I was supposed to. I'm so lucky to have the children I do, and when I feel like I can't "see Jesus" I can look at them and He is there!
Emma, our two year old, is very much an extrovert. Actually she is more like a "ham" as they call it. Once we sat in the pews and Mass began she started pointing out to everyone where "Jeesie" was, which normally is cute but not during the opening prayer or even through to the Gospel:). She was pitching a fit because the girl behind us had a book and she wanted it. At this point people are turning around to look at us. Did I forget to mention she is welcoming all the people who came in late. Yes, she was doing "What Jesus Would Do", but I guess my pride got the best of me and I did not want her to disturb others. She started pitching another fit so we decided to go into the cryroom. The cryroom which can be a great tool, but tends to be more of a distraction to me now. Our church is so beautiful, but there are no windows in the cryroom. I feel so separated from Jesus. I feel like I'm in a room listening to a "play by play" of Mass. Not to mention for some it has become a "social". I often try to stand in the window of the doors so I can actually feel a part of the Miracle inside. It often brings me back to the days when I could fully participate in Mass, and actually remember the readings. At this time the devil works on me and says, "why do you come when you don't even get to participate"? Thank God, the Holy Spirit quickly kicks me in the behind and reminds me there is nowhere else in the world I would want to be...thank you Holy Spirit! As not only parents, but catholic parents it is our duty and responsibility to bring our children to church each Sunday, and we do. God will provide the grace to get through it. Even though I got frustrated thinking she was being bad, she was actually doing what Jesus calls us to do: Be like children, welcome and love others, but most of all bring others closer to Jeesie....Isn't that what it's all about. Maybe I was the one who was not doing what I was supposed to. I'm so lucky to have the children I do, and when I feel like I can't "see Jesus" I can look at them and He is there!
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