Welcome to a much neglected segment on this blog "Taming the Frizz!" See here for other posts.
You know how everybody learns differently? Mr. Curly is a very hands-on learner. I'm more of an auditory/reading learner. I loved lecture classes. To sit and take notes for an hour, then return to my dorm and read a chapter over that had just been lectured on and find subtle details I had missed... heaven!
I've always been the same way at church. I listen, take a few notes, then read the passages and my notes at home to solidify it in my mind and heart.
Confession time: Since Curly Girl was born, I can count on both hands how many times I carried my Bible and notebook to church. I can count on one hand how many times I actually pulled that Bible and notebook out. That is almost FOUR YEARS of not helping myself learn.
My excuse, of course, are the Curly Kids. And the church plant. Once Curly Girl was old enough, and we were attending an established church, she was in the nursery and I paid attention. But when we started our own Sunday morning services with 4 other people and only one other kid - well, there was no nursery to drop them off in.
And now, I AM the nursery worker. Which means, we don't go to the nursery. I have a bag in our seat with activities and snacks and I sit in the back and do my best to listen and wrangle the kids.
Mr. Curly was preaching about how we are the Children of God. Like a baby looks like his/her parents, we take on the look of God. We are His image bearers. Curly Girl heard this and said "Bearers? I thought Daddy was talking about how we are just kids."
She wasn't quite getting the point (we explained it later at home) but she was LISTENING. Actually listening while she colored, not just hearing.
Myself? Another confession: I was just hearing. I wasn't taking anything to heart. I had a teenage girl sitting with me to help, and I was more concerned about how Curly Boy was going to react to her interaction, I was thinking more about keeping Curly Baby asleep so I wouldn't have to leave the sanctuary (and thus fight Curly Boy to stay with the teenage help), than I was listening to the wonderful message God had put on Mr. Curly's heart.
It was an uncomfortable eye-opening moment.
Instead of worrying about my children and what others think about how I handle them, if they are safely contained and involved in a quiet activity, I should be focusing on what God has to say to me.
Today I pray that we can each say the following with utter truthfulness and confidence:
I seek you with all my heart, do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.
Psalm 119:10-11
You know how everybody learns differently? Mr. Curly is a very hands-on learner. I'm more of an auditory/reading learner. I loved lecture classes. To sit and take notes for an hour, then return to my dorm and read a chapter over that had just been lectured on and find subtle details I had missed... heaven!
I've always been the same way at church. I listen, take a few notes, then read the passages and my notes at home to solidify it in my mind and heart.
Confession time: Since Curly Girl was born, I can count on both hands how many times I carried my Bible and notebook to church. I can count on one hand how many times I actually pulled that Bible and notebook out. That is almost FOUR YEARS of not helping myself learn.
My excuse, of course, are the Curly Kids. And the church plant. Once Curly Girl was old enough, and we were attending an established church, she was in the nursery and I paid attention. But when we started our own Sunday morning services with 4 other people and only one other kid - well, there was no nursery to drop them off in.
And now, I AM the nursery worker. Which means, we don't go to the nursery. I have a bag in our seat with activities and snacks and I sit in the back and do my best to listen and wrangle the kids.
Mr. Curly was preaching about how we are the Children of God. Like a baby looks like his/her parents, we take on the look of God. We are His image bearers. Curly Girl heard this and said "Bearers? I thought Daddy was talking about how we are just kids."
She wasn't quite getting the point (we explained it later at home) but she was LISTENING. Actually listening while she colored, not just hearing.
Myself? Another confession: I was just hearing. I wasn't taking anything to heart. I had a teenage girl sitting with me to help, and I was more concerned about how Curly Boy was going to react to her interaction, I was thinking more about keeping Curly Baby asleep so I wouldn't have to leave the sanctuary (and thus fight Curly Boy to stay with the teenage help), than I was listening to the wonderful message God had put on Mr. Curly's heart.
It was an uncomfortable eye-opening moment.
Instead of worrying about my children and what others think about how I handle them, if they are safely contained and involved in a quiet activity, I should be focusing on what God has to say to me.
Today I pray that we can each say the following with utter truthfulness and confidence:
I seek you with all my heart, do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.
Psalm 119:10-11
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