How's Your Worship Experience These Days?

Monday November 10, 2008

My son's been doing pretty good in church these days, I have to say. He sits quietly, he stands when he's supposed to, and although he often refuses to kneel, he at least scootches himself forward on the seat, kneeling-like.

Oh, sure, there are still moments. He stretches big and blocks the view of the people behind him. He asks silly questions at more than a whisper. He's not easily dissuaded from picking his cuticles or sucking his fingers, and when we try to make him stop, things can get disruptive (though is that him, or us?).

I won't say we never get That Look from nearby pew-sitters, but far less frequently than in the past. More often, I see younger kids behaving way worse, and it warms my heart, it does.

As another holiday season approaches, though, I can still remember the dread that this time of increased worship used to cause me. We certainly had some Christmas services ruined by heart-hurting behavior, and developed some strategies around it that, thankfully, are not so much needed now.

If you're still in that stage of worship wretchedness, I've got some tips on worshiping with a special-needs child that may help you keep the faith. And if you've figured out some good tips of your own, I'd love to have you add them and make this a richer resource for stressed parents. Just type them into the box at the end of my article that says "Share Your Strategies," or go directly to the Readers Respond page for this question.

The gift of experience is a pretty precious thing this time of year.

_{Photo by Terri Mauro}