Little Blessings In This Season Of Life

Does your church have those “quiet bags” for the kids to have during the service? They stress me out. They get dumped out. Crayons go everywhere. People around us are always picking them up and handing them back to me. They put different little activities in there. Flash cards. Something with a shoe lace to weave in and out of holes. A stuffed animal. A magnifying glass. A clip board with pieces of paper. This “quiet bag” is NOT quiet. Times it by 3 and our row looks like a hurricane went through it in one hour.

This past Sunday, I randomly decided to put Kylan in the nursery with Isla right away, rather then wait until he became too disruptive, and the 2 older boys came to church with us. We walked in a little late and the usher had to find us a seat. Of course it had to be right up front. As we’re about to walk in, my oldest asked if he could get a bag. I said “No. absolutely not. You don’t need that!” The mean mom that I am thought “we never needed quiet bags when we were little. By 3 we learned to sit quietly during the whole service and even participate!” Well maybe not, but these were my slightly dramatic thoughts.

But then it happened. The usher, bless his heart, brought up 2 “quiet bags” and children’s bulletins for Talan and Grayson. As I’m clutching my teeth together I give him a tight lipped smile and say “thank you.” As genuinely as possible. I took a few deep breaths and realized we don’t have the main culprit of the tornado and the instigator of the arguing about wanting what his brothers have, because he’s in the nursery. I’m telling myself it’ll be fine. I just hope they don’t draw another monster with a sword sticking in his neck. Or an ‘angry pineapple.’ Because these are in fact, what boys draw. Regardless where they are.

But then I happened to look over at my #1, and these were his drawings throughout the service:

Cue all the good feels. My eyes welled up with tears (it doesn’t take much these days. Just say “Hi, how are you?” And my eyes will well up with tears).

Not only that, but I didn’t have to force them to stand when everyone else was standing. I didn’t have to quiet them. There wasn’t a mess in the aisle. He was, in fact, listening even though he was drawing. And it made my Mama heart happy. I still believe at 6 and almost 9 they should be old enough to sit through a church service without needing a distraction, but right now, it’s about getting through this season of life. And I’ll pray they can slowly get rid of needing the distractions to make it through. I feel like they know they don’t NEED it, but they know it’s there and these bags have become apart of their church ‘routine.’ P.S. For the love of ‘routines’ make it stop!

The picture below, on the left, happened to pop up in my memories today. The picture on the right was them walking out of church on Sunday, and Talan helping Grayson walk through the wind.

We’ve got many years left in this season with our youngest being 16 months old, and our 4 year old often times feels like we’re dealing with a 2 year old. So for now we look for the little blessings along the way. (And write about this season so that it’s never forgotten) Because the Lord is working in my little people. And yes Talan David, the Lord IS Good.

~XOXO