Worship from the Church Nursery

 It happened again! Halfway through the service I had not one but TWO children screaming. So up I stood and practically pulled them behind me and went to the nursery. It always happens in the middle of the sermon. It always happens. Every Sunday. Every Wednesday. I always end up here. I grab bits and pieces of the message I have wanted to hear all week. I am angry and frustrated, looking at my two children who are now their tantrums and I ask myself, "Is this even worth it? Coming to church week in and week out and ended up here?".
 In the midst of this inner turmoil and frustration I look up through the little window that lets me peer into the service and I saw her. Sarah. She sat there next to a sweet lady in the church with her Bible in her lap and listening attentively to the Pastor preached. My little 4.5 year old girl who has sat in the service (and many out of the service in the nursery with me or daddy) in her short lifetime. She sat there hearing the Word of God preached, closed her eyes in prayer, and in that moment all my frustrations and anger melted away.

It WAS worth it.

These years of young babies and toddlers pass quickly. We train them best we can, but they are still going to be human and act up. They are still going to cry and cause us to leave the service out of respect for others. But I had been missing the point. The point was not to have perfectly behaved children that sat through services stone still. The point was that we, Sam and I, were creating the habit (for lack of a better word) early. When they are babies and toddlers it is not so much how still you can make them, but they learn that church is an important part of their life. They learn by example that we go to church and sit as long as we can, but church is still important.  Most days Natalie does great and sits the entire service, but if she is on an especially high sensory day then that doesn't happen. They are hearing the Word being taught in Sunday school and through the music. The result of this commitment is a Sarah. A child who sits through and is starting to hear on a new level. Starting to comprehend some of what is being said, and that to me is so worth it.

So I encourage you mom of young ones. It may not seem worth it right now when you spend more time out of the service than in; but it is! What you are investing in is a lifetime of faith and difference in your child's life. So take this time to create a good example and understand it is a phase. You are investing in these tiny years and will reap your dedication in the years to come. So when it comes to worshiping from the church nursery, let go of your frustration and irritation because it is worth it in the end.