Mission

 "There is inherent magic at the intersection of God's calling for our lives and what makes us feel truly alive. If you travel the path toward what makes you feel most alive, and get to know God along the way, changes are you'll eventually find yourself at that magic intersection."

Peanut and I have not been back in church since Christmas of 2019.

She got sick over that holiday, we took some time off to recover from all the germs, and then well, pandemic.

Peanut and I have diligently had "church" every Sunday morning. We talk a walk in nature, we do a few virtual worshipping options, I do a lesson with her on character or emotional wellness, and we do some sort of application of all of that.

Honestly probably more in depth and devoted than in the days we went to a church building.

But ........there's always a but right? ...........

But I've been feeling tugged in the last few weeks, now fully vaccinated, to evaluate our worship approach and decide what to do moving forward.

Little "c" church is hard.

The building with the people.

I would attest that NO little "c" church ever fits the complete bill for what you need in your spiritual health.

And that EVERY little "c" church has at least one set of folks that has not treated you as you feel you deserve or need to be treated.

So sometimes I come to the conclusion that we just don't go to the little "c" church.

Peanut woke up Sunday morning crying.

"Mama, I'm very sad."

"Mama, I'm not good enough to be your daughter."

Once I caught my footing, I questioned "Where in the world would you get the idea that you are not enough?"

She didn't know.

Woke up with that idea in her heart and was unbearingly sad about it.

I stumbled a bit, reassured her that no she was not perfect, but neither was I.

That she was most definitely fearfully and wonderfully made. She was ENOUGH.

Always.

We ventured out on our morning walk to regroup and breathe fresh air and I firmly felt that tug.

Peanut needs community.

Peanut needs other people to tell her she is fearfully and wonderfully made. Peanut needs to see Jesus in action in other places.

I began to question - what little "c" church do I take Peanut to?

My main hesitation with taking Peanut to church honestly is that I don't want other people screwing up the Jesus I've painted for her.

The most important thing to me is that the Jesus in the Bible, the one I worship, is the one that the children's church folks tell her about.

I will find people who make mistakes in every building.

I will be one of those people.

I don't need the right programs or activities.

I simply need other people to care that Peanut knows she is enough.

So Peanut and I put on our summer church clothes and we headed out.

I settled Peanut into her class, I took my seat in the sanctuary. I took my shoes off and thanked Jesus for showing up for me.

Yet again.

Mama Warriors, I don't necessarily think a church building on Sunday is the only place you can gift your kids other people who will point them to Jesus and tell them they are enough.

I do think our kids need community.

I do think you will never find a perfect church.

So maybe, rather than waiting to find the right program, or to never be left out an activity, or love every sermon, maybe you find a church that has the same mission you do.

And you gift it some grace that like any relationship, there will be ups and downs.

But you remember that the mission is more important than the bumps.

Mission minded people can extend grace and navigate differences.