Being Sunday, and being Christians, the family went to church this morning. And made up about half the congregation, by the time me, my kids, plus my sister and her kids all troop in.
Well maybe not exactly half - but we take up a considerable chunk of one section of seating - and make more noise than the rest of the gathering together!
Sometimes I wonder why we go to church. Between answering odd questions fired at me by my own children and the half dozen others I find seated with me when the service begins; trying to sing worship songs while Pants attempts to cover my mouth with his grubby little fingers and the Honey Girl hisses "STOP MU-UUM! Don't sing!"; refereeing fights between the Rabbit and Tubby over who got hold of the church library book printed in c.1786 about some imaginary characters we're never heard of or show interest in EXCEPT when your brother is holding the book; and Boombah requiring multiple feeds which usually leave me wondering when I get home if I remembered to tuck my boob away after Feed # 245, when I stood up walked out mid-sermon, or if maybe 3/4 of the congregation saw a "sign" they won't forget in a hurry and which perhaps burned images on their minds they won't forget for all eternity ........ I'm not sure I actually DO much "church" besides arriving (mostly!) on time and leaving when it's all over and the coffee has run out!
But we attend nonetheless - the boys pack their light sabres and swords, and the Honey Girl brings along an assortment of tea sets and weaponry to cover all potential play bases. And they pretend to listen attentively to messages about love and kindness and compasison, and then join the other church boys in games of warfare and destruction as soon as the service ends!
Today I had the pleasure of sharing some of the service with Bruvva - my sister's almost-2-year old and younger "bruvva" of Bear. The Cousins From Up the Road. When Bruvva wasn't climbing in and out of our pram, or sitting on my lap cheering "BIIIIIIIC!", he was seated placidly on his Daddy's lap nearby, apparently listening carefully to the message accompanying communion.
Communion in our family is something we share with our children, and we use the time to explain the basic truths behind the ritual to them, in terms they understand. And for the most part, Belle and I think our children understand the importance of such a tradition; they seem to grasp the meaning behind the deed; they appear to accept the spiritual importance and strength of the act. If nothing else, they respect the solemnity of such an occasion.
Bruvva's patience was admirable in one so young, as he quietly sat through the entire communion message, and solemly accepted his small biscuit and munched quietly. His patience and serious attitude continued as the tiny glasses of grape juice were handed out to the congregation with instructions to hold onto the glass until all were served and then we would share the drinking together.
Now remember this boy is not quite 2 - and he sat through the entire process with patience and solemness not easily mustered in even a much more mature person. He held his little glass and seemed intent on not even tasting it until the appropriate time.
And then the leader stopped speaking, and it was clearly *almost* the moment Bruvva had been awaiting so long. Just before the communion leader announced that the congregation would now drink together; in that time of silent reflection and spiritual peace, Burvva's little voice piped up - loud and clear and bursting with excitement :
"CHEERS!"
And he knocked back his glass of juice and grinned at his audience!
Well maybe not exactly half - but we take up a considerable chunk of one section of seating - and make more noise than the rest of the gathering together!
Sometimes I wonder why we go to church. Between answering odd questions fired at me by my own children and the half dozen others I find seated with me when the service begins; trying to sing worship songs while Pants attempts to cover my mouth with his grubby little fingers and the Honey Girl hisses "STOP MU-UUM! Don't sing!"; refereeing fights between the Rabbit and Tubby over who got hold of the church library book printed in c.1786 about some imaginary characters we're never heard of or show interest in EXCEPT when your brother is holding the book; and Boombah requiring multiple feeds which usually leave me wondering when I get home if I remembered to tuck my boob away after Feed # 245, when I stood up walked out mid-sermon, or if maybe 3/4 of the congregation saw a "sign" they won't forget in a hurry and which perhaps burned images on their minds they won't forget for all eternity ........ I'm not sure I actually DO much "church" besides arriving (mostly!) on time and leaving when it's all over and the coffee has run out!
But we attend nonetheless - the boys pack their light sabres and swords, and the Honey Girl brings along an assortment of tea sets and weaponry to cover all potential play bases. And they pretend to listen attentively to messages about love and kindness and compasison, and then join the other church boys in games of warfare and destruction as soon as the service ends!
Today I had the pleasure of sharing some of the service with Bruvva - my sister's almost-2-year old and younger "bruvva" of Bear. The Cousins From Up the Road. When Bruvva wasn't climbing in and out of our pram, or sitting on my lap cheering "BIIIIIIIC!", he was seated placidly on his Daddy's lap nearby, apparently listening carefully to the message accompanying communion.
Communion in our family is something we share with our children, and we use the time to explain the basic truths behind the ritual to them, in terms they understand. And for the most part, Belle and I think our children understand the importance of such a tradition; they seem to grasp the meaning behind the deed; they appear to accept the spiritual importance and strength of the act. If nothing else, they respect the solemnity of such an occasion.
Bruvva's patience was admirable in one so young, as he quietly sat through the entire communion message, and solemly accepted his small biscuit and munched quietly. His patience and serious attitude continued as the tiny glasses of grape juice were handed out to the congregation with instructions to hold onto the glass until all were served and then we would share the drinking together.
Now remember this boy is not quite 2 - and he sat through the entire process with patience and solemness not easily mustered in even a much more mature person. He held his little glass and seemed intent on not even tasting it until the appropriate time.
And then the leader stopped speaking, and it was clearly *almost* the moment Bruvva had been awaiting so long. Just before the communion leader announced that the congregation would now drink together; in that time of silent reflection and spiritual peace, Burvva's little voice piped up - loud and clear and bursting with excitement :
"CHEERS!"
And he knocked back his glass of juice and grinned at his audience!
2 comments:
ROFL!! Freya is always saying "AMEN" loudly after every prayer. They're cute little people!
LOL - classic!
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