Daily Devotionals

Sunday Funday

Posted in Parenting/Marriage

Scripture:  “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” – Colossians 3:16 

 

We were running late for church. Again. 

 

We manage to make it to work and school on time pretty consistently. We can even manage to get to basketball practice, birthday parties, and every meeting or gathering on every other day of the week with a few moments to spare. 

 

But help us on Sundays. Nobody seems to hear their alarms go off – or maybe they just ignore them. Nobody can find an outfit that will do: dresses have become too small and shoes too tight seemingly overnight. Everyone needs my assistance even more than usual, which makes me increasingly irritable.

 

By the time we make it out the door, only half of us have eaten. The one child who managed to get ready on her own has on lime green grippy socks from the trampoline park pulled up past the tops of  her ankle boots and a dress and sweater with opposing patterns. I silence the inner control freak and don’t even suggest a different sweater. At least we are on the way. 

 

As we shimmy into our usual spot in the back, we are anything but reverent. There are squabbles over who is signing the friendship register and who gets to sit on the end. There is the inevitable mid-sermon bathroom run. But the music calms me, and I let the words of the sermon settle my spirit. I am always glad we came.

 

As I look around, this scene is happening in more than just our row.  I’m not looking at you and judging you if your kid’s hair is sticking straight up. It actually makes me feel normal. I know the mountains you had to move to get there. I venture to say that God does, too, and that he’s glad you made it even if your kid is wearing socks from the trampoline park. 

 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, allow your peace to roll over us every day, especially on Sunday mornings that seem to be so chaotic.  Draw us into your presence, making us determined to allow nothing to stand in the way of our worshiping you with glad hearts.  Amen.

 

Submitted by Kelly Barbrey