I walked into the Sunday evening Mass a few weeks ago with quite the ragtag group of little boys. I had been in and out of the house all day and got home just in time to change out of my weekend workout clothes for Mass. So I paid a little less attention as to what exactly my boys were wearing. As I parked the van and we joined hands to walk across the parking lot, I realized one had stains from his earlier snack all down his pants. Another one was wearing a shirt that he had obviously outgrown, evidenced by the faint line of stomach sticking out from the bottom. And the third had his shoes proudly on the wrong feet. I won’t even mention the combination of plaids, stripes, and old Halloween socks that they had put together when told to “go and put on something nice for Mass.” Looking at them as we walked into church, I hung my head a little. I felt so unprepared.
As we walked into the main part of the church, one of the four-year-olds whispered loudly, “Can I have my cereal yet?” I shushed him as we tried discreetly to file into a pew. Sitting down, he whispered again, “Now, Mommy?” I sighed as I quickly pushed small bags of cereal into the boys’ hands, thinking in response to a question no one had actually asked, I know, I know—they are getting too old for this. Finally feeling everyone was settled, I turned my attention to the opening song and tried to prepare my heart for Mass. It wasn’t long before I noticed a scuffling next to me in the pew. One brother was leaning hard on the other brother as they both tried to stifle their laughter. “Get away from one another!” I hissed as my eyes darted quickly to those in the pews around me.
Mass with little ones can be so uncomfortable sometimes, and I wonder if I am distracting from the experience of those around me by bringing them at all. But then one will try to imitate my movements by kneeling next to me, or another will strain his neck to see what’s happening up on the altar, and I feel like I have a privileged front-row seat as they begin to figure it all out. In between begging for pens and shoving cereal in his mouth last week, one of my four-year-olds paused and said, “Mommy, did you know Jesus died for us?” I breathed in that moment and thought, Let me hold onto this.
As a parent, I can often get swept up in the details, particularly during a stressful time of year like this one. I can start to focus on all the things going wrong, like misfitting shirts and stained paints, instead of more precious moments, like when I paused to see all three of my sons watching me with wonder in their eyes as I walked up that Sunday to receive the Body of Christ.
It is so difficult to remember that life is not about perfection. My prayer for all of us this holiday season is that we may walk together—as our imperfect human selves—moving ever forward in hope.
Image by Lutz Holzapfel from Pixabay.
Nicely written, Gretchen Crowder. Thanks for the amazing description and the reflection.
Thank you!
As children we were taught to wear our Sunday best because we were attending God’s party in his house.
This is still the practice of our third generation families.
A great testament for young children being in attendance at Mass. Children can be trusted to learn even as things are not perfect.
Gretchen, your narrative is absolutely heartwarming. Your boys sound adorable and I’ll bet they derive all that goodness from a pair of adults with whom they live(?)!!! If I were seated near you that day I would think how wonderful they are here and marveled at the array of fashion. One day at Mass a mother and her little boy who I’d say was around 3-4 were seated behind me. He was fascinated with all that was ongoing. When the celebrant turned the key to open the tabernacle it made a loud noise that could be heard among the silence. He looked at his mother and asked, “Mommy, is that where Jesus lives?” My heart melted. I thought to myself Jesus lives in that little boy’s heart with no doubt… now, can I be like he?
Thanks for your reply! And for giving me insight into how young kids, as messy as it all feels, can be a blessing to those surrounding them in the pews!
“My prayer for all of us this holiday season is that we may walk together—as our imperfect human selves—moving ever forward in hope.”
Great words of inspiration, will share this with friends and family.
Blessings this Christmas Season
Thank you!
I loved this, especially as I still mostly have the mentality of wearing Sunday Best for church on Sunday’s as when I was a child. I even find myself telling my husband to not wear his trainers! Gradually I realised that God doesn’t care what we wear but only what is in our heart. Your boys sound wonderful .
Thank you!