My husband and I started out as newlyweds trying to find a church that we could worship in as a couple.  One that wasn’t “his” and wasn’t “mine” but that would be “ours”. 

It took us a little over a year but we did indeed find a great church.  We were expecting our first baby and were filled with excitement as we began to make new friends, build relationships, serve, learn more about scripture from our pastor, worship and grow spiritually. 

We were at our old church for 8 and half years.  We had 4 of our 5 children dedicated there.  Foster was baptized there.  I had a best friend there.  My kids had best friends there.  Chris and I taught Sunday school classes, I sung in the choir for awhile.  We held all kinds of babies and toddlers in the nursery, along with our own.  It was home. 

And then, it wasn’t.  It first happened spiritually, then relationally.

I would love to be able to say the decision and the circumstances that led up to it were organized and sterile. “First A happened, then B happened, then C happened, then we prayed and God said A+B+C= time to find a new church home.”

But, that’s not life.  And it’s certainly hasn’t been easy.  It’s been painful.  It has felt like a divorce in a lot of ways.  It has been hard to explain to our young children.  We have told them that they just have to trust us, and God. 

One thing that I have come to realize during the whole process is that my relationship with God – my day-to-day talks with Him (prayer) and my spiritual education (reading my bible) does not hinge on my church attendance. 

A church home is wonderful. It helps to encourage and support you and your family.  A church family offers great opportunities for you to minister to others.  A church full of fellow believers worshipping together can be a beautiful experience. 

But, the personal relationship is up to you.  The spiritual education of your children is up to you and your spouse.

It’s kind of like a banana split.  (Hear me out here.) God is the banana and you are the ice cream.  That alone is delicious.  Church, though, is the hot fudge sauce, the nuts, the whip cream and cherry.  A church family, a church home, where you feel a part can add all that extra yummy to your relationship to God. 

Thankfully, it seems that we have found a new place to belong.

My husband grew up in a wonderful church here in town.  Many of the people that nurtured and loved him when he was young are still there.  We have been attending that church and we have felt a peace each Sunday that neither of us can explain.