THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 23, JULY 6, 2003 

WHY AM I HERE? 

You feel you aren’t able to enter into the worship. Just when you have focused your attention on the words of the song and begun to feel that you are really being stirred to spiritual responsiveness, 18-month old Missy bangs her head on the back of the pew, her cries rising in crescendo above the singing. Or you have just been able to grasp the preacher’s line of reasoning as he expounds a difficult verse, when 3-year old Johnny tugs urgently at your dress and insists in a loud whisper that he has to go potty.  

The ways in which your attention and concentration can be distracted by the little ones are endless. Sometimes you feel that there is no real purpose in being at the church services while trying to cope with them. You feel that you are getting nothing out of the service, and besides, the children are probably distracting others in the audience, so why take them? Why not keep them at home so that you, the children, and others of the audience will ALL be happier? 

Your feelings are perfectly understandable. You do have a problem. But don’t be discouraged. Your problem in reality is a great and golden opportunity. You have it within your power, if you deal wisely with this problem, to accomplish these wonderful objectives: 

1. To implant in your children the habit of attending church services, thereby opening the way for them to learn about God as they grow up. This may very well mean all the difference between their becoming faithful Christians or going the destructive ways of the world. 

2. You may not be learning much from the sermons, but you are learning for yourself thoroughly practical lessons in patience, self-control, self-denial, perseverance, discipline, and obedience to God. These lessons are the kind that are best learned under the pressures of obstacles. 

3. You are teaching others. By faithful attendance and courageous tackling of your problems with the children your are setting a wonderful example to the rest of the congregation. Such as example is a priceless asset to any church. It is more powerful in influencing the lives of others than many sermons. A church cannot have too many young mothers of this kind. We need them all! We want them all! 

So, young mothers, don’t be discouraged. Keep coming. Bring the children. Most of us have been through the same experiences with the little ones and we understand your difficulties. We respect your concern for others. We admire your fortitude in coming. We want your fellowship in worship. We need your help in teaching the church. So, bring the little ones to services. 

* This article was written by Foy Short and I give it a hearty amen. Paul told us in Romans 13:7, to give honor unto whom honor is due. Young mothers, you are appreciated, you are wanted, and the cries of your children are music to the ears of those who look to the future of the church.  

Sometimes some one might forget what it was like to have children and say something that hurts the feelings of young parents. Don’t worry about it. I remember a time when our Rachel was still in Vicky’s arms. She wasn’t bad in services, she was just a baby and babies make noise from time to time. One woman told Vicky that she needed to take Rachel out and punish her every time she acted up a little bit or she was going to end up with another ADAM on her hands. Well, Vicky just cried and cried and I think Adam turned out O.K. so far. Sometimes folks will speak without thinking too much about what they say.  

I do have one question, however. Does it seem to you like your children always cry the loudest? I know that it sure seemed that way to me back when our kids were little. They were two decibels louder than anybody else’s children. Maybe there is something to heredity after all. 

Greg Litmer 

THAT REMINDS ME

I sure we have all heard this story, but I am going to repeat it anyway.

There was a young mother at services one Lord’s Day morning and she had her 1½-year old baby boy with her. No sooner had the preacher started talking when little Johnny got to fussing and whining pretty loudly. The longer the preacher spoke, the louder little Johnny got. Finally, the mother got up and started to take her son out to teach him a short lesson on keeping quiet during services. As the preacher saw her get up, he thought he would be nice and he said, “Sister, you don’t have to take that baby out. He’s not bothering me.”

About that time Johnny’s mother turned around and said, “No, but you sure are bothering him.”

Sometimes it just pays to keep your mouth shut. 

Greg Litmer 

JUST A THOUGHT

It never ceases to amaze me how being genuinely concerned about someone else’s problems makes your own problems seem so much smaller.