Gurgles And Giggles And Squeaks, Oh My!
Devotional
Forty Letters to a New Dad
Devotions for New Fathers
Object:
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white;
All are precious in His sight!
Jesus loves the little children of the world.1
Dear Kyle,
When you were only about three weeks old, we brought you to worship at a church in Rochester. Immediately, we noticed that the sanctuary was void of children! Strange, we thought. We soon found out why.
When Mom rocked you on her lap, you began to emit the quietest, most contented hum in human history! You were asleep, but you must have been dreaming of eating. "Hmmm. Hmmm. Hmmm." And then they began turning their heads! These pious, rubbernecked people made us feel like a major interruption ... and we never went back!
Some years later, when there was criticism in our church over children causing "noise" in worship (that's what they called it), I wrote the following piece and included it in my sermon the following Sunday.
Jesus, The Gospel, And Cheerio Row!
Sitting in worship, in the back few rows
The toddlers are munching on dry Cheerios
Surrounded by diaper bags, duckies, and keys
The sermon is starting "Keep the children quiet, please!"
Mother's embarrassed, Father turns red
Junior just bumped the pew with his head
Jenny went potty all over the seat
They've colored the worship book, sheet after sheet
When the sermon is over, when the pastor is through
I'll take the child to the nursery, that's what I'll do
I'll take her downstairs where Sundays are fun
Pick her up in an hour when worship is done
The sanctuary then will be a quieter place
To speak about tolerance, patience, and grace
Parents must do what they feel is right
Having children in worship may make them uptight
But be ye reminded of what it says in The Word
Jesus welcomed adults ... but it was children he preferred!
Children belong in church! That's the bottom line. Yes, they might occasionally become upset and need to be walked, or fed, or entertained. But I can't think of a better place for a child to be on a Sunday morning than right there, with Mom and Dad and Jesus. Bring Gordon to worship; Jesus can't wait to meet him there.
Love,
Dad
God, you love children ... and we love you ... so we ought to love what you love. Help us to teach Gordon how to worship you ... by watching us. Amen.
____________
1. "Jesus Loves The Little Children," music by George F. Root, words by C. Herbert Woolston.
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white;
All are precious in His sight!
Jesus loves the little children of the world.1
Dear Kyle,
When you were only about three weeks old, we brought you to worship at a church in Rochester. Immediately, we noticed that the sanctuary was void of children! Strange, we thought. We soon found out why.
When Mom rocked you on her lap, you began to emit the quietest, most contented hum in human history! You were asleep, but you must have been dreaming of eating. "Hmmm. Hmmm. Hmmm." And then they began turning their heads! These pious, rubbernecked people made us feel like a major interruption ... and we never went back!
Some years later, when there was criticism in our church over children causing "noise" in worship (that's what they called it), I wrote the following piece and included it in my sermon the following Sunday.
Jesus, The Gospel, And Cheerio Row!
Sitting in worship, in the back few rows
The toddlers are munching on dry Cheerios
Surrounded by diaper bags, duckies, and keys
The sermon is starting "Keep the children quiet, please!"
Mother's embarrassed, Father turns red
Junior just bumped the pew with his head
Jenny went potty all over the seat
They've colored the worship book, sheet after sheet
When the sermon is over, when the pastor is through
I'll take the child to the nursery, that's what I'll do
I'll take her downstairs where Sundays are fun
Pick her up in an hour when worship is done
The sanctuary then will be a quieter place
To speak about tolerance, patience, and grace
Parents must do what they feel is right
Having children in worship may make them uptight
But be ye reminded of what it says in The Word
Jesus welcomed adults ... but it was children he preferred!
Children belong in church! That's the bottom line. Yes, they might occasionally become upset and need to be walked, or fed, or entertained. But I can't think of a better place for a child to be on a Sunday morning than right there, with Mom and Dad and Jesus. Bring Gordon to worship; Jesus can't wait to meet him there.
Love,
Dad
God, you love children ... and we love you ... so we ought to love what you love. Help us to teach Gordon how to worship you ... by watching us. Amen.
____________
1. "Jesus Loves The Little Children," music by George F. Root, words by C. Herbert Woolston.
