Sunday morning worship service, it is the place where we come together to sing, fellowship, and hear from the Word. It is one of the few constants in the life of a Paxton. However, when will we arrive for service? No one knows. The youngest child may spill spoiled, leftover milk into the backseat. Yes, this happened recently. A bad hair day can throw the whole production off its tracks, or the Starbucks line could be at a standstill. For sure, everybody needs a Starbucks on Sunday morning. Departure time from the church parking lot can be just as unpredictable. After all, rounding up a very sociable five year old, a teenager, and a mom who likes to talk, talk, talk, can be a very difficult undertaking for almost anyone. Besides, Worship is the place I want to be on a Sunday morning, and I'm never in too much of a hurry to leave some of the most precious people I know.
This most recent Sunday, something caught my eye, or should I say my attention? It wasn't from the Scriptures, a cool new worship song, or Heaven help, the fantastic outfit that the person a few rows over from me may have been wearing. This was different. My son, Jack, was lying across the laps of both his parents. He likes to do that. It was nothing new, really. Then, it happened. My fifteen year old daughter decided to join in on the love. She laid her head on my shoulder, no one else's shoulder. It was mine! Can I just say, "WHAT IN THE WORLD!?" What did I do right on this perfectly typical day?
I started looking around, all around, up and down every single row. I'm sure you've been there. When something unusual happens to you, you must look to see if it's happening to someone else. Nope. There were no other teenagers to be found who were snuggled up to their mothers. This was really getting a little odd. The Pastor! I wondered if he was seeing this whole situation unfold. We all know the car affect that happens once we take our seat in the congregation. We forget that from the platform everything can be seen, but like in the car, we don't always alter our behavior. Many of unusual things have been seen from the pulpit. I'm sure we all could name a few. This day, I am most certain, our pastor was wondering what was going on over in the Paxton corner of the house. Did I make mention that my husband was also sitting very close to me, arm around my shoulder? It was a real lovefest.
I was a little uncomfortable, a little embarrassed. No one else's family looked like mine. This Sunday morning, we didn't fit the congregation's mold. How often do I look around at others to measure my normal? How often do I miss my blessing because I'm consumed by someone else's blessing? But, not on this day. This day, I decided to look my blessing square in the eye, even if it didn't look just so, so.
I could hear Christ whisper to my heart, "You are the mommy." Or, for more dramatical purposes, Thee Mommy. Where else would I rather be, or what else would I rather be doing than sitting with my precious children, closely, affectionately by my side? Yes. I am the mommy. I love being the mommy! What an insane blessing! I have been allowed the ability to speak into my children's life in a way that nobody else will ever do. I have been given the opportunity to nurture, raise, and set them free to do a mighty work for the King! Wow! INSANE blessing.
Hmmm...maybe next Sunday, we'll do it all, again....
As mothers, we all share these moments. The instances where we simply look at our children and say, "Wow. I really get to do this, Lord? You've chosen me to be a part of the work you are accomplishing within my children?" They often happen at the most unexpected times, in the most unusual ways. What are some of your "Thee Mommy" moments?
Theemommy
