Dear One,

As we were worshiping last Sunday I happened to notice the beautiful picture you and your young family painted there in the pew across the room. The future of the church of our Lord is captured in this seed of potential. But then I noticed the emotion on your face. First, let me thank you for showing that emotion. Too often we fail to let others see the gratitude and awe we feel for our Maker. In the effort to stress that Christianity has a needed intellectual side we must not cut out the emotional part of our response. I saw love on your face, but it was mixed around the edges with weariness. It was not until then that I noticed the activity in the little bodies surrounding you.

I remember that moment well. The day starts out of your normal routine. You have much to do to prepare the little ones to come and worship, and even with a husband who is “hands on” it does not promote the calm frame of mind you wish you had for worship. And then, once you are assembled, the strengthening words you so desperately need seem to be lost between the necessary tasks of child management. It would be easier to let them act as their innocent little hearts will them to and just listen to instruction from The Word, but then you would be allowing them to become the distraction to others that you do not want to have for yourself.

“Perhaps,” Satan whispers to you, “you are starting too young. Maybe your expectations are just too high. If you stay home you could read for yourself over the noise of their play. At least you could focus on the words this way. You could even have a Bible class just for them and teach them something.” Do not listen. These are the words of worldly wisdom and only serve to make things easier on yourself in the short-term. The longer you wait to apply the principles of training involved in teaching them self-control, the more difficult it will be. Infants respond to the emotional communication of those they love. From the moment you can kindly frown and shake your head at an unwanted behavior and see that the message registers, your child is trainable. If their response is anger at being controlled they have told you they need that response discouraged. You know your children. They are smart, quick, curious and able to learn. Do not make excuses for them based on age or development. Take their level of understanding into account and work with them, speaking the language they understand best. Your heart goes out to these precious souls and you want to please them. Hold on to that thought. It is not pleasing to them or to God if your indulgence of misbehavior causes them to grow willfully away from God instead of submissively toward Him.

The loving congregation around you understands that children are inclined toward vocal and bodily activity and have tried to say not to worry about it, but you do. Bless their kind hearts for being so understanding, but you know that the older version of your children you see across the aisle who sit attentively and participate with such enthusiasm did not turn out that way by accident. They were trained to discipline themselves, and that training came through a careful and consistent application of the principles of respect and consideration. Most children are not naturally still and quiet, but they can learn to be to the degree necessary to assist those around you to focus on the worship they have come to offer to God. Yes, we understand when a child is vocal or restless. But as a parent you realize it is your responsibility not to allow them to continue in that behavior because it is inappropriate to the importance of the occasion.

I can see your strength of conviction and that you believe that the course you have set is justified. Now it only stands to remember that you can only do what you can do. God does not expect the same results from each of us. He asks only that we do what we can. At each point in your life you will have different abilities and opportunities. This moment will change, and God’s expectations of you will change to match those new opportunities. As unlikely as it may sound right now, you may find yourself looking back wishing for this simpler time.

When the weariness of consistent application starts to seem too much, remember that God understands this, too. Jesus is our example of patient endurance. Can you imagine how grueling it must have been for Him to live 30 some years of this life with all its repetition? Yet He did it, because He considered the cause to be worth that investment. Invest in your little ones. You are on the right track. Hang in there.

your loving friend,

Laurie Moyer

2 Cor 4:17