Going to worship with a toddler can be hard.  

Sunday during the sermon, Judah quietly said, “Bawk,” and before I could respond he was successively letting out a string of “bawks,” each one louder than the last.  I leaned over and had to whisper, “You’re not bawking right now. We’re in church.”   

I find myself saying the weirdest things. And I’ve experienced a lot.

Judah once threw a toy train car over two rows of seats, and I watched in horror (and then relief) as it sailed to the ground without hitting anyone.  

He regularly shouts, “Help!” when he can’t reach the last raisins at the bottom of the box.  

And my reflexes are getting quite good, considering I am usually able to catch Judah’s ankle as he excitedly takes off crawling down the row of seats when people stand to sing a song.

But you know what? After I’ve sat through a sermon and maybe heard one or two snatches of the main points between taking care of my busy boy and trying to teach him how to whisper, there’s always someone who tells me how great Judah did today and how happy they are to have us at church.  

I still have a hard time understanding. Are we talking about the same boy? He was loud! He nearly threw a toy at the back of your head!  

But what I’ve come to realize is, the vast majority of people in the church don’t mind.  

And they usually don’t even notice.  

My hypersensitive mom senses just got a beating, and all they see is the positive that Judah was there today. That we made an effort. And that they have been through it, too.  

A person once told me that they love the sound of children in worship, because they are the future of the church.

I sometimes wonder how much Judah could be picking up on during worship. He’s newly 2, and even I have a hard time focusing on the songs and sermon when he gets especially active.  

Sunday at lunch, with no prompting, Judah started singing a worship song.

Tears came to my eyes as his sweet little voice for the first time sang a song that he so often hears.  

Parents, our children are learning from us. They see our example, and they hear what we say. Even when we feel like we sat there and still missed half the sermon, our kids are being exposed to Jesus.  

It can be hard, and embarrassing, trying to sit through a worship service with our kids, but what is our end goal?

I want my boy to grow up and become a good Christian leader. I want him to love Jesus with his whole heart.

I want him to go to Heaven.  

And those goals make everything hard in the meantime so worth it.

Step by Step›

Oh God, You are my God›

And I will ever praise you›

And I will seek You

in the morning›

And I will learn to walk

in Your ways›

And step by step

You’ll lead me›

And I will follow You

all of my days

[Miranda Mayfield and her son Judah attend Kingfisher Church of Christ, where their husband and father Daniel is the minister. The Mayfields’ anticipate their chorus of Sunday “bawkers” will double in size in November with the arrival of Judah’s baby brother.]