After convincing the boys that we were definitely going to church this morning, we all got ready and pulled into the parking lot only a few minutes late.
As we were walking in the boys each took turns trying to convince me to cut our meeting attendance short for the day:
M: "How about we leave right after YM?"
Me: "No."
Oldest: "How about right after Sunday School?"
Me: "No."
M: "Are you in the library today?"
Me: "No, not this week."
M: "Well, then...whyyyyy did we have to come?"
Me: "Because. Going to church gets you into heaven."
There was a little more bargaining as we were walking into the building.
Defeated, Oldest said:
"Church is just another opportunity to talk about Jesus with people I don't like."
My first reaction was to laugh, and I did. I told him he was hilarious.
But then, after I thought about it...it made me sad.
Sad because I think I've failed him/them in one more thing.
I haven't taught them enough about one of the most basic principles of our gospel. A principle that I thought was one of my stronger points.
The principle of Love Thy Neighbor. And, further... the simple (maybe not always so simple) act of being Christlike.
I totally get the not loving going to church. Let's be honest...it's kinda boring. Especially to a teenager. I get that we're not going to be best friends with everyone we worship with. Can you imagine? (actually, I think that would be kinda cool...I just can't really see it happening)
But to NOT LIKE the people you worship with...ugh. That part stings.
I know how this happened.
I'm hoping to fix it.
I know it starts with me.
I can set a better example.
I can challenge certain perceptions.
I can use kinder words.
I can encourage greater love by showing greater love.
Lord, give me strength.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
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16 comments:
B, I just love you! Thanks for voicing exactly the way I have been feeling lately. Hang in there and I am going to try better, too.
You can do it. Just remember--he will thank you when he is on a mission talking to people he DOES like.
sparcam - I think we can all do better. We have to try.
La Yen - that is one of the first things I thought too...he will be a missionary soon. He must learn to love the gospel AND love his neighbor.
I have to admit, I usually skip Sunday School because our teachers suck. It's something I need to work on.
i love this.
and i love you.
i also love the lady in my church who brings me all of her week's worth of leftovers on sunday because her grandkids won't eat them but she can't bear to watch them go to waste.
My dear Uncle taught me that the way to love people, that you don't like, is to pray fo them and serve them.
It is tough to do, but it works!
Your doing AWESOME....I remember wanting to not go many times with you and have this talk of lets go and do this??? Great Advice I need to do better, I'm in the same boat I will turn around and have Austin out on his mission...his doing the same thing as your boys....love ya and lets do LUNCH....xo
Thank you. Thank you for your attitude, and your reminder. I don't like a lot of people in my church. I need to remember to love them anyways.
Yes, Mrs. Bitters...I recall MANY a Sunday skipping off to Brother Winchells or 7-11 or just cruising around Orem.
I guess it's coming back to bite me in the butt, huh?
Great post b., I think about stuff like this all the time because I was, and AM a reluctant full time attendee a lot of the time.
I was going to say that I think it's a teenage thing, but I don't think it's just with the teenagers. There's a large group of adults, sitting in the hall on couches during Sunday School, having a great time. Makes me jealous. I'm afraid if I'm out with them, my 17-year-old will walk by during one of his "drink of water, go to the restroom" jaunts from his SS class and see me. What kind of an example would that be? ;D
My kids follow my example closely, and it scares me into trying to be a good one. Even some of the wordage I use in my prayers is the same they put in theirs.
I think of Elder Bednar's talk from October conference about hipocrasy.
"The hypocrisy in our lives is most readily discerned and causes the greatest destruction within our own homes. And children often are the most alert and sensitive when it comes to recognizing hypocrisy."
Sometimes it annoys me, but maybe it's just a poking from the spirit.
hopefully your kids will be real and honest and brave enough to be introspective just like their mom.
love this.
it is a little frightening to realize how much every piece of our example really impacts our children.
Lesson heard. Thanks, I needed that.
I'm so used to skipping out early "because the little guy is too unbareable" I have gotten so in the habit that this last week he was actually being pretty good and I still left halfway through sacrament! Man good thing he is too little to realize, but I better get better soon
We've all got that stuff to work harder on. You're not alone.
That said, I know you'll reach your goals, 'cause that's the way you're made. I love you!
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