It matters that they learn that worship is what we do as a community of faith, that everyone is welcome, that their worship matters. When we teach children that their worship matters, we teach them that they are enough right here and right now as members of the church community. They don’t need to wait until they can believe, pray or worship a certain way to be welcome here, and I know adults who are still looking to be shown that. It matters that children learn that they are an integral part of this church, that their prayers, their songs and even their badly timed (or perfectly timed depending on who you ask) cries and whines are a joyful noise because it means they are present.
I know it’s hard, but thank you for what you do when you bring your children to church. Please know that your family—with all of its noise, struggle, commotion and joy—are not simply tolerated, you are a vital part of the community gathered in worship.
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This post originally appeared at I Am Totally That Mom.
Read this next: 10 Things I Don’t Want My Kids to Learn at Church.
