Every Generation Has Something to Give…. And Something to Receive!
Sunday mornings have changed for me over the past few years! I used to be the Mom who felt like I was frantically rolling into the church parking lot about 10:29am, praying there would be a spot to sit in the back of the congregation. We all know that is an easy escape plan for those mornings when the “little blessings” are just not having it! Honestly, it was always surprising to me how HARD Sunday mornings were! Anyone else? Why couldn’t we find the shoes that I had laid out the night before? The milk always seemed to go bad overnight and do not even get me started on the disagreements between children…. And parents! Sundays just seemed hard for some reason. When church was over, I often wondered why on earth we went!? Did I even get to listen to the Sermon? I know there are more than a few of you in this stage of life who would agree!
Only a few short years later, I stood in the entrance to our beautiful sanctuary, BEFORE 10:29, taking in the blessings that God had given to me. I was in a new stage of life. All of my kids were old enough to get themselves into the church service on their own after Sunday School; often Acolyting or singing in the Worship Band. But more than observing my family, I saw many other families coming into worship just the same way I used to. I knew some were wondering why they had even come that day – already feeling defeated. But something struck me that wasn’t so obvious unless you really looked for it. I saw many people smile so sweetly as those families walked down the aisle, trying to corral their wiggly children. The parents didn’t see this. Small giggles were seen and whispers (of the good kind!) were shared with the people sitting next to them because they had been there years ago! You could tell that their day had just been made! I saw teenagers take the time to stop and talk with younger kids outside of the sanctuary, encouraging them. The younger kids walked away confidently and ready to take on the world! I saw little children who were running/jumping/climbing into their pews, followed by overwhelmed parents, greeted by the people sitting next to them. They were genuinely so happy to see them arrive and now they weren’t sitting alone. I saw a few young people helping an elderly member to their seat and then walked away with huge smiles on their faces because they had received a hug and a thank you from this member.
As I had a chance to reflect on this, I realized that we often don’t “see” how we may be blessing someone else when we are in the midst of something hard. Sometimes your hard situation allows someone else to receive something they need. So, as you sit in the pews next Sunday, I want you to look around. Look at what God is doing in our congregation. If your day is made by the little kids tromping down the aisle in their princess dresses, tell the parents! If you notice someone blessing someone else, tell them! Sometimes we all need a bit of encouragement. Cheers to those 10:29am parents – I promise that your hard work of bringing your kids to church will pay off.
Amy Bomareto
Children’s Ministry Coordinator
