A faith lesson from a toddler

Sometimes God has to conk me over the head with something for me to get the point.  This happened most recently on Monday.  The kiddo and I had gone to a special service in the morning at church.  Because it was a weekday, no nursery was available since our church’s day care was using the nursery room.  I didn’t even think about that.

So, we sat in the last row (honestly, we do that anyway).  My mom came in to join us for this service because I had told her how good it was the night before when she was at her own church.  I hoped for the best, but I knew my toddler loves to talk.  And by loves to talk, I mean that she does so pretty much incessantly.

She did well through the opening remarks and the music.  She sat quietly on her own and in my lap.  She looked at her books.  She colored with the crayons and paper I pulled out for her.  She chatted a little bit, but she wasn’t too bad.  We even talked about how we needed to whisper.  We’ve been working on that even more lately since my husband has been working from home more and taking calls from clients and co-workers.

But, when the preaching started about 40 minutes in, my nearly 2-year-old was done with whispering and sitting still.  She’d adjusted to the new setting and was ready to explore.  She was much happier on the floor wandering and chatting.  I looked at my mom.  We decided to go ahead and leave.  The last thing I want to do is let my child distract anyone from God’s message.  And she was quickly on her way to doing just that.

On the way home earlier than anticipated, I was feeling a bit mopey.  I had been looking forward to the whole service.  I was probably extra mopey because I was tired and a bit sinus-y and feeling somewhat puny.  I was thinking how pointless the trip had been when I heard my child’s commentary in the backseat change into a prayer.  She thanked Jesus for so many things including me, my husband, our dog, all of her grandparents, a family friend and more.  She ended with “Amen.  Yay!”

My eyes filled with tears.  Yeah.  My kiddo was learning.  I had seen the wheels turning in her head during the service when I told her that we were getting ready to pray and talk to Jesus.  She’s used to doing that with us at bedtime and all, but she’d never before experienced prayer in a service like that (not that she can remember, anyway).  She knew we’d been at church.  She knew we’d talked to Jesus.  She knew that was important.  She knew we sang songs about Him.  She knew all the things that I was about to overlook and miss while I was thinking about the other things that we had missed.  She got the point when I was still moping and thinking about myself.

All I could do was thank God for her — for her sweetness, for her desire to talk to Him and for her reminding me that she is always learning from my leading.  I got hit over the side of the head with a lesson from the mouth of my toddler.  I just pray that God gives me the wisdom and strength to pay attention and not miss these lessons and opportunities.  Sometimes a conk on the head is just what I need the most.  And all I can say about that is Praise God!

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