Family Worship—pain and joy

Life's tempo continues to increase——at least while you have children at home. It's never easy to work family worship into your schedule, but with innovation you can do it. And it's worth the effort

Ginger Mostert Church, editorial secretary for Insight magazine, is the mother of two teenage sons and writes from Williamsport, Maryland.

 

It is so easy to identify with Ginger Church as she rolls back the years, recounting extremely busy yet very pleasurable times with her boys, one of the most memorable of which is having family worship. Now facing the challenge of family worship with two teenage boys, she offers some creative ways to spend this time together.

If you have been too busy in the past for family worships, perhaps you will want to prioritize worships on your New Year's resolution list after reading her article.— Marie Spangler.

Picture with me a family seated in front of a roaring fire. The father holds a large Bible in his hands, and the children watch him, listening intently as he shares a familiar story.

Now change the scene. Picture instead a group of people rushing about, racing the clock as they struggle to finish early-morning duties. Mother is frantically fixing breakfast and sacking lunches. Father is on the phone making business appointments, holding his finger in his left ear to shut out the din. Junior is tearing the living room apart in a vain search for his unfinished home work. Sis has just thrown her curling iron in the bathroom sink and is wailing that the curls on the right side of her head never want to match the curls on the left side.

Which family is having the better day? The first, of course. You've heard it said that "the family that prays together stays together"! But even though it's been preached and taught to us as far back as we can remember, "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Too often we aim high but miss the mark.

When my boys were small we'd Ginger Mostert Church, editorial secretary for Insight magazine, is the mother of two teenage sons and writes from Williamsport, Maryland. snuggle down and read a Bible story. They usually sat spellbound and full of questions while I read. Sometimes to break the monotony of an oft-repeated story, I'd let them fill in the blanks. When we were finished they often begged, "Just one more!"

As the years flew by and the boys became primary and junior age they were still enthusiastic about family devotions. My husband and I found that the youth devotional books made having family worship easy and fun. We'd delve into nature or one of many other topics. There might have been more creative ways to conduct worship, but at least we were trying.

Now that I'm the mother of two teenage sons, family worship suddenly poses new challenges.

How I wish I could tell you that when the boys were small we always took advantage of their interest and didn't miss a day. But one of the ways the devil confuses Christian families is by keeping them "too busy."

When the boys were small I could have told you in all sincerity that "life could simply never be more hectic!" Fortunately, back then I didn't have time to worry about the years to come. Besides, in my inexperience I had no way of knowing that things could and would get busier as Doug and Dony got older.

With first one and then both boys in school, the roller coaster ride picked up speed. Mornings always disappeared in the rush to get ready—forever that "Hurry, hurry, or we'll be late." Evenings managed to fill up too; homework, Home and School meetings, special programs, company, and a multitude of minor details strove to fill every available minute. And don't forget TV. It was always in the background, offering entertainment and education.

Human nature kept prompting me to believe that life would be easier as the boys grew older and established school routines. But now that I have a tenth-grader and a seventh-grader, the tempo has reached an all-time high. How terribly exciting teenage life is! There are always places to go and things to do. They don't want to miss a thing.

So where is the time for family devotions—the most important time of the day? That special time with and for the Lord?

What a wonderful blessing if you can start your day with worship! But maybe you—like me—already begin your day at five o'clock. A few minutes for personal devotions, and the race is on. For us evenings offer more time for family worship. After supper and before everyone goes his separate way we try to set aside a few minutes. Worship does make the day more meaningful and encourages spiritual growth and family unity.

We especially enjoy the youth worship book. What a wealth of information nature offers! Religious bookstores offer a wide range of material to aid the struggling parent. Or you can be more creative with what you do for your devotional time. Some like to play Bible games. Others read and discuss the Bible. Studying the lesson helps make Sabbath school more enjoyable. Each worship must be geared to your particular family's likes and dislikes. Some enjoy singing; others would rather listen to records or tapes. Still others don't want or enjoy any music at all. That's the beauty of belonging to God's family. He made us so alike and yet so different.

Lately I've come to recognize the broader meaning of worship as part of my daily life. Is worship only the act of reading the Bible, singing a song, and saying a prayer?

I've come to see that much of everyday living can be an act of worship. As Christians we can be constantly worshiping God in our every act and deed. The small things I do for other family members or the acts of kindness to "the least of these" are a form of worship. Even my facial expressions denote feelings of love and adoration to God. How about that chatting time with your oldest at the end of the day? The way you greet your youngest—sleep still in his eyes? Even the entertainment you choose? While these may not serve the same purpose or fulfill the same needs as gathering the whole family in prayer, they are an important part of a family's worship experience.

Parents of small children, of teenagers, whoever you are—don't be discouraged. If you missed formal worship last week, last night—try again. It is important, so don't give up! Discouragement is the devil's tool. Hang in there! And in your family worship time, each member can be strengthened and family unity buttressed that each member may make every act of his or her life an act of worship. It's true—families that pray together do stay together.

 

Prayers from the Parsonage

I am keeping vigil tonight over our cat that was stiff-legged and in pain this morning and now lies weak and listless. Cuddles is very sick; but we cannot reach the vet on Sunday, and the emergency clinic with its high fees is a last resort.

Dick, raised on a farm, is realistic. "If he pulls through, great; but we're not going to run up medical bills for a cat. Hans, who'd rather have a dog, nevertheless insists, "Jesus can make him well."

Lisa who hates to see even a spider crushed, pleads, "We can't just let him die, Mommy! I'll pay for everything." (A brave pledge from someone whose allowance is 50 cents a week.)

And I? I'm caught in the middle. My head knows that Cuddles was a "free" kitten. Already checkups and shots, food and litter have cost more than we'd
expected.

Thousands of unwanted kittens are killed or dumped in animal shelters, and we could easily find another pet needing a home.

But my heart understands love in a new dimension. This cat leaves hair on the cushions and snags in the drapes. He scratches when I brush him and often walks off coolly just when the children would like to play. Yet he is special precisely because of the months we've spent in nurturing and training. We love him because he's ours. I cannot place a dollar-and-cents value on his life. Like a friend, he is not replaceable.

Creator-God, do You not also love Your creatures? Did You not weep when You killed the first animals to make garments for Adam and Eve? Did You not long for man's obedience rather than the sacrifice of his herds and flocks? While on earth, did You perhaps have a pet lamb or dove? Did You not state that God is concerned over a half-cent sparrow?

Cuddles' yellow eyes follow me trustingly as I try to make him comfortable. The children, so distraught before bedtime, now sleep in perfect assurance that You and I will save their pet. Help me, Lord, to make the best decision.


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Ginger Mostert Church, editorial secretary for Insight magazine, is the mother of two teenage sons and writes from Williamsport, Maryland.

December 1984

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