Ever notice how when children are in church with their parents, how much better it is?
I have! Some one said that the church that is not crying is dying. Even if there are times when they don’t behave and get loud, I want to see them there. I can handle it without a problem. The noise they make is music from heaven. I am blessed!
Even when Jesus walked the earth there were some people who tried to keep children from Jesus. He would have none of that nonsense. Rather he said to let the children come to him and told the crowd that unless they became like these little children that they could have no part of his kingdom. Children and their families are gifts from God, bringing us all joy and comfort.
Could it not be that in the past we did not see many kids in church because people complained about them. I know of more than one family who no longer attend mass because someone commented on their child’s behavior. I was lucky when my children were toddlers because one of them sucked her thumb, another was calm being held and the other slept through mass. We were blessed. You think it is tough on some people in the congregation if a child is noisy, how do you think the parents feel?
When parents are child-shamed at church, no matter who does it, whole families may never show up again. In one family I know, the children, parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles simply went to another church. Some families just stop going to church all together. Children are a joy in church, and I am sad when I don’t hear them.
I don’t like cry rooms. I’d rather have children with their parents in pews no matter what is happening. However, for those parents who feel the need to be separate from the general congregation we have one. I hope no one ever uses it. That would be my loss.
Having children and their parents in church brings me great joy. Jesus said to let the little children come to him. I am glad when I see and hear them. To me, child-shaming is a great sin. Having children in church is to be celebrated.
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May he let his face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you his peace.”
