Mike and I had a "We'll never forget that!" moment today in church...and this time, I can thankfully say, it was one to be happy about! We do our best to get to church each week and we make it there most weeks but it is always a struggle:
1. to get dressed, fed and stay clean in our church clothes until the 9AM departure,
2. to get into a pew without an, oh no...those rowdy kids are sitting next to me? look:)
3. to keep Lucy from running like a mad woman during our children's program in the church basement during the first half of mass,
4. to keep Lena from acting like Lucy during the second half mass when we return to the pews,
5. to pay attention to any part of the message,
6. to make it to the end of mass without a quick exit with at least one of the two girls.
Nonetheless, we go each Sunday because we know it is a vital part of our lives and teaching our children how to build a relationship with Jesus includes doing the tough things, even when they are as seemingly simple as getting to mass on Sunday morning.
So, there we are, at the end of mass with Father DiNardo, one of our priests who is truly a wonderful figure in our church - very personable with adults and kids alike, spiritual and good teacher and example of our Catholic faith. Before closing prayer, Father called all of the children to the altar to sing a spur of the moment song with him (he loves to break out in impromptu songs during mass). Lena & Lucy made their way to the front of the church along with about a dozen other brave kids. Father taught the crew of kids a song and had them sing with him. Lena picked it right up and joyfully sang along, this alone made our hearts smile. Lucianna grinned from ear to ear and looked back and forth from jolly Father DiNardo to big sister Lena. Her admiration of her big sister was evident and she was having fun just sitting on the altar step and soaking in the positive energy Father exudes. Mike and I glowed with happiness, too.
But, Father - always full of fun - pushed on and gave the kids a "pop quiz." If you have ever been to a Catholic mass, you know this is not the normal closing activity...it usually races to a halt after Communion and all of the God-fearing, church going folk hustle out the door for the first Sunday of NFL playoffs. But...Father DiNardo had us all on the ropes...and Lena showed up as his star student.
His questions were simple and all of us sitting in the pews knew the answers:
"Who is Jesus' mother?" Lena did not hesitate even a split second before her confident sweet voice produced the answer, "Mary!"
"Who is Jesus' father?" "JOFESS!" Father DiNardo accepted her answer and lead another question to point out that Joseph was Jesus' earthly father and asked the children, "Who is His real father?" For this one, Lena quieted and another child chimed in, "God!"
"Who were Jesus' first visitors?" Lena quickly got back in the game and replied, "The Wise Men." Father smiled and agreed that the Wise Men travelled from afar to visit Jesus (We celebrated the Epiphany today).
"But who came before the wise men?" Again, Lena responded to his question, seeing that yes, Father was right, someone else came first, and she spoke, "the shepherds!!"
The entire exchange held a smile on my face and thankfulness in my heart. I was proud of her, proud of what we had taught her, but most of all happy that she knows and loves Jesus.
And all the while, our church family smiled with us, warmed by Lena's love and knowledge of our Savior. And they said, "She is only three years old."
Awwww!
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