Last night Foster, Katie and I did some research on how they could use their H.C.I.N money.  We visited the Feeding the Orphans site. We read about 9 ways their money could help and also watched 2 short videos of the orphans in Ghana.

They both made several comments about the children’s lack of housing, clothing and toys.  We discussed their lack of clean water and of healthy food.  Katie said one thing though that stuck with me.
She said “Mommy, I bet those children don’t even get to go to church.”

Our children see going to church as a privilege.  Not a duty or a burden, but something to be thankful for and something to be excited about. 

I think as parents we should try to nurture this attitude.  When Saturday rolls around and it’s time to start ironing church clothes and taking baths and packing diaper bags and all that, we try to use words like “we get to go to church tomorrow” or “tomorrow is a church day! Yay!” It may sound corny, but to very young children how you present something is huge in how they view it. 

On the flip side, we could be too lazy to go to church.  Getting our family of 7 to church at 9am on Sunday morning is no small feat.  We start on Saturday night and do the ironing, baths, clipping of nails, finding of dress socks, shoes and coats, piling up bibles, stocking diaper bags, filling sippy cups, making sure there is something quick and painless for breakfast, and tucking everyone in by 8pm so they will wake up in a decent mood.  Then Sunday morning Chris and I get up at least an hour or more before the kids, shower, wake them, feed them, clean them up, dress them (even a 6 year old girl needs help with her tights), start the van so the frost will melt off, put coats on, grab the bibles, load up and go!  Of course, in between all that is the nursing of the baby, the time-outs, disciplining, crying, laughing, lego building, car racing and lots and lots of questions.  Are you tired yet?

But why should we complain?  Wouldn’t we do all that same preparation to go somewhere like Dollywood? Don’t we hurry and rush to get to doctor appointments on time? Aren’t we faithful to attend family or friend birthday parties?  Why should taking advantage of a chance to go to God’s house be something we avoid or procrastinate on? 

Our family is thankful to have the privilege, the freedom to attend a worship service.