Obtineo

I want to write this down because it's a reminder that I too often forget by Monday morning.

Our kids sit with us in church on Sunday's, from the youngest to the oldest. Sometimes they all do well, but other days the younger ones - particularly the three and five year olds - have a rough time sitting still. That's understandable to some extent, but it's not sitting that I'm thinking about. It's sinning. Yes, sinning in church.

It's easy to be tempted to frustration on a Sunday when the little ones are not behaving well. But I recall on those days that what I watch is really a snapshot of the sins that my kids have been struggling with the week before. It's not that they are different on Sunday; rather, they tend to be themselves. The things I see from my little ones on Sunday are the things that I need to be working on with them during the week. For example, the sins of coveting or lack of self control. It can be hard to imagine why, but my youngest will whine, fuss, and get angry when she can't have the bulletin that she wants. Heaven forbid if someone else touches it. Never mind that I am offering her one exactly like it. For some reason she wants the one that someone else has. Or as other examples: pouting, slow to obey, disobedience when they think I'm not looking, etc. More subtle tendencies come out too. Some always go for the largest piece of bread, others for a more modest piece. I'm sure I could think of other examples.

These are not Sunday sins. They are simply the temptations, sins, and tendencies that my little ones are struggling with at this time in their lives. It reminds me of the sins for which we need to repent, and the ones for which we need to apply diligent discipline.

So, Sundays tell me something about me and my children. I also see some of my my older children diligently following along with the liturgy. Some take notes and can't wait to tell me what they learned when we get in the car after church. Some work very hard to find the right page in the song book and hold it for me (it's very sweet, even though I have a hard time reading it when the book wiggles so much). Others are raising their hands at the right time and others saying "amen" along with the congregation. They are all at different stages in their spiritual lives.

Sunday is a good day for me to be reminded of where we are spiritually. That's a blessing that I need regularly.