Eye Squints

Our daughters are able to play and draw during church service. We ask them to stop for prayers, but other times they’re happy to play quietly and sing along on their own terms.

Once during a prayer, I felt a tap on my hand. I peeked to see my four-year-old squinting up at me with play dough in her folded hands, like she was pretending to stop and pray as requested. She whispered, “Mom, can you open this [play dough]?” I deftly opened the tiny container with one eye open, and began handing it back to her. She promptly closed her eyes and began pawing the air to my hands, as if now fully praying.

I couldn’t help but laugh. It’s hard to follow “the rules” when you’re having fun.

You know what’s great about the mercy of God? He doesn’t care about these minor disruptions either. He’s smiling with you in these little moments when your child shows you it’s OK to walk out of the box and act your age.

Remember when you’re doing life with your littles this week, that these little children are the greatest of God’s kingdom. Yes, they’re messy and loud and sometimes ask strangers uncomfortable questions, but they’re seeing the world through new eyes where you’ve been trained to dampen wonder.

So let your child’s curiosity interrupt your prayers. Let their joy challenge your seriousness. Let their simple faith remind you what it means to truly belong to the kingdom of God.

Emily

Have more time? Give yourself a couple minutes to breathe. When you breath in think, “be still,” and when you breathe out think, “and know.” Repeat 4-5 times.