Misbehaving In Church

What do you do when it’s your kid that’s misbehaving in church? Well it may be a stretch to call a 2 year old’s antics, misbehaving, but they certainly can be a distraction to the ones trying to pay attention to a speaker or a prayer.

I have watched many kids over the years, as little ones begin to get louder or make a break for freedom while parents look on, wondering if and when to intervene. This time it would be my granddaughter distracting the flock.

There we were, 70 plus Emmanuelites gathered for worship after a day of snow, rain and hail on the hills at Gray Rocks. Our theme followed the scripture of Jesus reaching out a hand to touch Simon's mother in law and invite her back to health. The question for our discussion was, when have we experienced someone reaching out a hand to us to invite us into the community of God’s care? Can you remember a person who did that for you?

At first it was just quiet twirling about in the middle of the big circle. Not too annoying while we were singing. Just feeling the music. Maybe the parents should grab her but she dances just beyond convenient reach.

Then others begin to join her. A liberation movement is afoot. The timing is not good because now there are speakers trying to communicate a message. Eventually our little angel body-slams another 2 year old into the carpet. Her dad sprints to the scene and carries her back to the seat next to me. Mackenzie begins to cry as she realizes that she has disappointed. Or maybe she is just ticked to have lost her audience.

Then her little victim, noticing the tears, sympathetically approaches. Mackenzie gets down, reaches a hand out, very gently touches the face of the little girl and says, “Sorry.”

Myrna, from across the room, says, “There’s the example you were asking for.” Myrna is one of the grandmothers in the room. She knows about these things.

Peter


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