Recently, we signed up to help clean the church one Saturday morning. (In our church, the members rotate the cleaning responsibility.) There were about 4 or 5 families/couples who showed up at 8am and the lead family handed out assignments. We were actually a few minutes late (oops) and luckily for us, the vacuuming had not yet been claimed. Here's something about me -- of all household chores, I love vacuuming! I love to run the vacuum because I find it relaxing. The hum of the vacuum helps me tune everything else out and believe it or not, I can solve a ton of the world's problems while vacuuming. Not to mention, I get the instant gratification of creating those perfect vacuum lines in the carpet! //squeals in delight//
I digress. My husband took the large commercial vacuum and was charged with the hallways and classrooms. I grabbed the regular vacuum and headed for the chapel - looking forward to it actually. Something about being in the Lord's house and serving Him in this way was very spiritually gratifying. Plus, I knew there was no way the huge monster vac could fit between the pews. I also knew, given the fact that we have approximately 480 parishioners and that half of those are under age 18, the chapel probably held a few misguided cheerios from the previous Sunday.
As I began, most of the aisles between the pews were in good shape - the anticipated lost cheerio or occasional forgotten crayon here or there. But then, I came upon a row and found myself utterly disgusted. Fruit snacks and cheese crackers mashed into the carpet - a pile so large that no one could miss it if they would have just looked! I'm going to give the family who sat there the benefit of the doubt and assume they did NOT check their surroundings before exiting their pew. I just can't accept that if a mother or father saw the mess their kids made in THE LORD'S HOUSE they would simply leave it there. (Right? Please tell me I'm right!)
As I went on my dust-sucking journey of creating clean lines in the beautiful chapel, about every 4th or 5th row, I'd come upon something similar to the earlier scene. Again, appalled. I know some churches don't allow food/treats even for small children in their chapels or sanctuaries. I also understand that it might not be completely realistic in a congregation of our size to implement that type of rule. But I was a little disappointed of just how often I came upon a rather large pile of forgotten treat crumbs. In one pew, I found a pencil that someone had manually ripped into shreds and then stuffed into the hymnbook rack. In the row behind that I located a few small hairbands and a little plastic snow pony, just laying there in plain sight. My morning of anticipated respite in serving was quickly beginning to shrink as defeat set in. Had I been giving my fellow worshippers too much credit? Are we just so used to living our fast-paced lives we don't stop and take two minutes to clean up after ourselves?
I remember while growing up my parents taught us church was not only a place of fellowship and faith, but also a place to show our gratitude and reverence to God for all that He has given and that reverence also includes respect. We weren't even allowed to lean our feet up against the hymn rack or pew in front of us. We weren't permitted to stand on the benches or run in church either. My parents taught us to treat the Lord's house better than our own. We understood this was a special place. And when it was time to leave, I can still hear my mother's voice admonishing us to "gather up our things" and check around us for any garbage. We not only cleared our own small toys or crayons, but often others' too.
Let's compare this to Disneyland - y'know, the "happiest place on earth"? Yeah. One of the corporate Disney philosophies is that EVERY team member is responsible to keep their parks clean. If they see trash, they stop and pick it up. It doesn't matter if they are the custodian, a groundskeeper, a ride operator, or an executive. And yet did you know that there are only 4 workers per shift that are responsible to drive around and empty the trash bins? FOUR! In a park as huge as Disney World or Disney Land, that's incredible considering the immaculate state we usually see.
Well, in my opinion, shouldn't our churches be one of the happiest places on earth too? Shouldn't we all take on the responsibility of keeping our sanctuaries just that - A Sanctuary? Should we not be teaching our children this? I can't tell you how many times in church I've instructed my kids to pick up a gum wrapper or other trash from the floor, whether it be in the chapel or the hallway. When they were little, they used to say, "but I didn't put it there." Now they understand. I hope they do this even if I'm not around to ask them.
By no means am I trying to call anyone out for their child making a mess in church. I just think if we all took an extra minute before leaving to check and clean our surroundings, and if we all picked up trash when we notice it (even if we didn't put it there), we would grow spiritually and deepen our connection with our Lord, both within the walls of our churches and out.
Something to think about, anyway.
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Monday, December 26, 2011
I Was a Handful (Who Knew, Right?)
I don't know why I thought of this today, but the memory brought a smile to my face, so I figured I'd blog about it.
I am the second of seven children. One might think when I came along things were still pretty easy for my mom. Wrong. I was a colicky baby, only happy if I was held or given a bottle, or better yet -- both! Although I eventually grew out of the colic, apparently I was a bit of a handful as a toddler.
*Allegedly* I liked to have certain things a certain way (my way) and would cry if they didn't occur in that way. The phrases, "Go to your room, Emma" and "If you're going to cry, go to bed, Emma" were phrases I heard on a daily, if not hourly basis. In addition to the whiny-cry-baby terrible two's, I was fidgety. I couldn't sit still, or be content for very long and from the time I started talking I was an incessant chatter-box.
However, the "difficult" child in me did not stop my mom from having more children right away, nor from having them one after the other. 3 children under age 3 and pregnant. That is where this memory begins.
I can only imagine the chaos of getting 3 under 3 ready for church in the morning, then once there sitting quietly in our pew. When I was older and there were 7 kids under 8, people would tell my mother, "Your children are so well-behaved in church." I used to think, "yeah -- because she's threatened us with our lives." Haha. But as a 2 year old, I don't really know what people thought or how we acted. I know I must have been a handful though, because I was allowed to sit with other people.
The Bournes. The Bournes were a young, married couple that went to our church. They did not have any children for quite a few years, and for some reason took a liking to me. I remember turning around in the pew, my eyes searching the congregation for them each Sunday. As soon as I spotted them, they'd wave for me to come and sit with them. I would nudge my mother, point in their direction and wait for her approved dismissal, which was always a nod and the whispered admonishment, "fold your arms". Dutifully, I'd fold my arms and walk as quietly as I could to their bench and sit with them the rest of the service.
Then, there was "Chid". Sharon Chiddister was a single woman, close to my mom's age whom didn't have children of her own. Many Sundays she'd sit near my parents and I remember quite often sitting on her lap and her rocking me to sleep.
I don't recall how often those "helpers" in church came to my mother's rescue, but it happened enough for me to remember. The Bournes eventually had their own children and moved away. Chid remained in the area, and over the years has always found a family to sit near in church and help with their children. I remember one family moved in, with 2 small active boys. Then, the mother was expecting twins. Chid was there to help out every Sunday. This was a huge blessing for the wife, because the husband had Sunday duties that required him to sit up on the stand next to the Bishop. A few years after the twins were born, the wife became pregnant again - with another set of twins. When I went back home to visit this past summer, I noticed that even though those kids are all teenagers now, Chid still sits with them and she is still like a part of their family, and their dad IS the Bishop now so I am sure she is a great help!
As a teenager, there was a family in our church with 8 kids, whom I babysat quite often. I started babysitting when # 6 was born, and instantly fell in love with that baby. We sat behind them every Sunday at church, and I always held him or let him sit by me until I went off to college when he was about 4. Truth be told, I didn't even realize he was a handful, until his mother said something to me a few years later, about how she was always grateful for me helping her out on Sundays because he was such a handful.
In church now I lead the music on Sundays. I sit up near the organ and I can look out into the congregation and see who's sleeping (haha), which babies are crying, which children are acting up and which mothers are struggling. I do notice a few childless couples or families with teenagers sitting near families with smaller children and offering their help whenever possible. I can always tell that the mothers are grateful too. But, I've also seen a few others in the congregation shoot disapproving looks towards some mothers - as if to say, "Get your kids under control!" I was thinking this past Sunday when I saw one woman give such a glare, wondering if anyone ever thought that about my mom while I was being "out of control"? Made me grateful to those "Angels among us" who offered to sit near us and help out where they noticed a need. That is true Christianity right there, and of all places we should be living and carrying out our religious beliefs, you'd think one place would be church, right?
We don't know what always goes on behind closed doors, and although *WE* may think we know how this mother or that mother should discipline her children during church, and while we wish she could keep her kids "under control", don't you think that idea hasn't already crossed her mind too? I mean no mother in her right mind WANTS her child to act up and make a scene, right?
My kids are older now and aside of the occasional elbow-to-the-ribs or whispering or giggling with each other, they can pretty much manage themselves at church. Because I lead the music and sit up near the organ, and because I am a single parent, they sit up there next to me each Sunday. At first they were not thrilled with the idea, though I think they are okay with it now. I have decided through this experience, that when the time comes that I am not sitting up there leading the music, perhaps I can find a young mom with her hands full to sit near and be a "Bourne" or a "Chid"-- pay it forward or something like that.
Oh -- and for being such a "difficult" child, I think I turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself! :)
I am the second of seven children. One might think when I came along things were still pretty easy for my mom. Wrong. I was a colicky baby, only happy if I was held or given a bottle, or better yet -- both! Although I eventually grew out of the colic, apparently I was a bit of a handful as a toddler.
*Allegedly* I liked to have certain things a certain way (my way) and would cry if they didn't occur in that way. The phrases, "Go to your room, Emma" and "If you're going to cry, go to bed, Emma" were phrases I heard on a daily, if not hourly basis. In addition to the whiny-cry-baby terrible two's, I was fidgety. I couldn't sit still, or be content for very long and from the time I started talking I was an incessant chatter-box.
However, the "difficult" child in me did not stop my mom from having more children right away, nor from having them one after the other. 3 children under age 3 and pregnant. That is where this memory begins.
I can only imagine the chaos of getting 3 under 3 ready for church in the morning, then once there sitting quietly in our pew. When I was older and there were 7 kids under 8, people would tell my mother, "Your children are so well-behaved in church." I used to think, "yeah -- because she's threatened us with our lives." Haha. But as a 2 year old, I don't really know what people thought or how we acted. I know I must have been a handful though, because I was allowed to sit with other people.
The Bournes. The Bournes were a young, married couple that went to our church. They did not have any children for quite a few years, and for some reason took a liking to me. I remember turning around in the pew, my eyes searching the congregation for them each Sunday. As soon as I spotted them, they'd wave for me to come and sit with them. I would nudge my mother, point in their direction and wait for her approved dismissal, which was always a nod and the whispered admonishment, "fold your arms". Dutifully, I'd fold my arms and walk as quietly as I could to their bench and sit with them the rest of the service.
Then, there was "Chid". Sharon Chiddister was a single woman, close to my mom's age whom didn't have children of her own. Many Sundays she'd sit near my parents and I remember quite often sitting on her lap and her rocking me to sleep.
I don't recall how often those "helpers" in church came to my mother's rescue, but it happened enough for me to remember. The Bournes eventually had their own children and moved away. Chid remained in the area, and over the years has always found a family to sit near in church and help with their children. I remember one family moved in, with 2 small active boys. Then, the mother was expecting twins. Chid was there to help out every Sunday. This was a huge blessing for the wife, because the husband had Sunday duties that required him to sit up on the stand next to the Bishop. A few years after the twins were born, the wife became pregnant again - with another set of twins. When I went back home to visit this past summer, I noticed that even though those kids are all teenagers now, Chid still sits with them and she is still like a part of their family, and their dad IS the Bishop now so I am sure she is a great help!
As a teenager, there was a family in our church with 8 kids, whom I babysat quite often. I started babysitting when # 6 was born, and instantly fell in love with that baby. We sat behind them every Sunday at church, and I always held him or let him sit by me until I went off to college when he was about 4. Truth be told, I didn't even realize he was a handful, until his mother said something to me a few years later, about how she was always grateful for me helping her out on Sundays because he was such a handful.
In church now I lead the music on Sundays. I sit up near the organ and I can look out into the congregation and see who's sleeping (haha), which babies are crying, which children are acting up and which mothers are struggling. I do notice a few childless couples or families with teenagers sitting near families with smaller children and offering their help whenever possible. I can always tell that the mothers are grateful too. But, I've also seen a few others in the congregation shoot disapproving looks towards some mothers - as if to say, "Get your kids under control!" I was thinking this past Sunday when I saw one woman give such a glare, wondering if anyone ever thought that about my mom while I was being "out of control"? Made me grateful to those "Angels among us" who offered to sit near us and help out where they noticed a need. That is true Christianity right there, and of all places we should be living and carrying out our religious beliefs, you'd think one place would be church, right?
We don't know what always goes on behind closed doors, and although *WE* may think we know how this mother or that mother should discipline her children during church, and while we wish she could keep her kids "under control", don't you think that idea hasn't already crossed her mind too? I mean no mother in her right mind WANTS her child to act up and make a scene, right?
My kids are older now and aside of the occasional elbow-to-the-ribs or whispering or giggling with each other, they can pretty much manage themselves at church. Because I lead the music and sit up near the organ, and because I am a single parent, they sit up there next to me each Sunday. At first they were not thrilled with the idea, though I think they are okay with it now. I have decided through this experience, that when the time comes that I am not sitting up there leading the music, perhaps I can find a young mom with her hands full to sit near and be a "Bourne" or a "Chid"-- pay it forward or something like that.
Oh -- and for being such a "difficult" child, I think I turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself! :)
Sunday, November 27, 2011
30 Days of Gratitude: Day Twenty-Seven
Today I am grateful for church.
I know there are many who don't believe in organized religion. But for me -- I am grateful to have a place of worship to attend on Sundays. I enjoy going and fellowshipping with like-minded friends and neighbors.
But more importantly, there are times when I feel a bit "empty" or "drained" from the week, or perhaps I am struggling with a certain trial. Getting out of the house and entering a place of peace and a place of worship and basking in the glow of others around me seems to buoy me up. It's like their sunshine will flow over into me, embracing me and letting me know I am in a place wherein I am loved.
Often times, a message will be shared-- either from the pulpit, in Sunday School or in passing conversation and it is precisely the message I needed to hear at that very moment. Today was no exception.
In this 30 days of Gratitude project, part of my quest, per se, was to determine the importance of gratitude to begin with. Initially, I felt that developing an attitude of gratitude would help me be able to see the bright side of things, to look at the glass as half-empty and not half full. Which it does. But, somehow, it does something more -- affects me deeper somehow. It's a bit enigmatic, and yet I can feel the change from within.
Today a speaker in church made the comment that having real gratitude in our hearts makes everything else "enough". I thought about that and it really resonated with me. This is the time of year I start to stress and feel anxious. I feel this pressure (put on myself, by myself) to try to give my kids a good and memorable Christmas. Sometimes the anxiety is so bad I want to stay in bed, with the covers up over my head and not come out until after New Year's. But having gratitude and really striving to see the good in everything, really does make what little I give seem like "enough".
Today, I am grateful for church.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Sunday Sentiments: God's Love & Forgiveness
I know it is a little late for a new post. But, this thought was such a good one, I wanted to share before I forget. Aside from the fellowship, support and overall good feelings of the spirit I obtain by renewing my covenants at church, I like going to church because I always learn something "new". Granted, the principle may not be new, but it's like reading a book or watching a movie for the second time. I get to certain parts and I am like, "I don't remember that from the first time I read/saw that." Or, maybe it is more enlightening. Or even better, perhaps I will understand it with greater depth. Like when I read a passage of scripture that I may have read a hundred times before, maybe this time it has new meaning for me.
Anyway, today in church in our women's Relief Society class, the lesson was back to basics; about how there is a God and that we are part of a heavenly family and God is our Father in Heaven. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, etc. The teacher asked the class to make a list of all of His qualities and attributes. There were lots of attributes mentioned. He is a Loving God, kind, merciful, patient, everywhere all the time, answers our prayers, etc. Here is the one that made my ears perk up just a little -- He is a forgiving God, and He is QUICK to forgive, and will forgive over and over, so long as we have a repentant heart and ASK.
Then, someone brought up THIS. Not only is He quick to forgive us of our trespasses, but He remembers them no more. As a Christian, I strive to live a Christ-centered life. Christ's whole mission testified of God. If God is quick to forgive AND forget, then we should strive to "forget" as well.
One lady said, and this is paraphrasing, "In order to truly forgive, we just need to FORGET about it; let it go. We need to FORGET the wrong choices our children have made. We need to FORGET about the things our parents did that perhaps we didn't agree with. We need to FORGET about the little quarrels or contention we've had with our friends and neighbors and brothers and sisters. If God can FORGET about our sins, we owe each other that same luxury."
As a parent, this doesn't mean I should turn a blind eye to the wrong things my children do. But it does mean that after I do my best to teach and correct them, I need to, as the quote says, "let bygones be bygones."
In my own group of siblings, we all have varying opinions on child-rearing or homemaking skills, etc., but simply put, we don't fight. I can't tell you how many people I know -- adults, mind you -- that tell me they aren't speaking to one of their siblings, or worse one of their parents. It's sad, really.
This is a very foreign concept to me. I don't think any of my siblings or my parents are perfect, and I am positive they will tell you the same about me. I am sure I do things that make them cringe, just like I can truthfully say I have cringed over some things they have done. But this whole concept of forgiving and forgetting, I love.
I hate carrying the burden of being upset with someone. It feels awful. Recently, when someone said some very unkind things to me, I carried that burden. I allowed myself to be hurt. Finally, I had to bury it and move on. So, I did. I packed it up, buried it away and forgave. Now - I hope to just forget about it. It doesn't really matter anyway.
I am sure that as my kids grow older and make choices for themselves, I will not always be proud of all of their choices, just as my parents have probably been disappointed by some of ours. However, I hope I can reflect upon and remember that as children of our Heavenly Father - and we all are - we owe it to each other to give each other the luxury of "Forgiving & Forgetting".
Just one more thing that hit me while I was sitting in the class today, and then I'll get off my soap box...
I think most of us are familiar with the saying that "God is Love". And He is. I remember when I had my first baby. I remember how much I loved him. I loved that baby with every fiber of my being. I would do and give anything for his safety and well-being. He brought so much joy into my life. He was an only child for almost four years before I had my second one. I remember during my second pregnancy, being a little worried and concerned. I wondered, how could I possibly divide my love? Would I have enough love to give to both children? But then the second one came and I didn't have to divide my love at all. I remember rocking my new little newborn in the hospital, and thinking, "Loving this baby doesn't mean I love my other child any less. I don't have to divide my love; there is simply just more to give." It is a phenomenon really. I mean, to give all you have to the first, and then to still have more when the second one is born? It truly amazed me.
And I thought to myself at that time, "I feel like I have just glimpsed into the heart of God. He doesn't divide His love; there is just more to give. He loves ALL of His children."
There is no end to love, after all, is there...
Anyway, today in church in our women's Relief Society class, the lesson was back to basics; about how there is a God and that we are part of a heavenly family and God is our Father in Heaven. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, etc. The teacher asked the class to make a list of all of His qualities and attributes. There were lots of attributes mentioned. He is a Loving God, kind, merciful, patient, everywhere all the time, answers our prayers, etc. Here is the one that made my ears perk up just a little -- He is a forgiving God, and He is QUICK to forgive, and will forgive over and over, so long as we have a repentant heart and ASK.
Then, someone brought up THIS. Not only is He quick to forgive us of our trespasses, but He remembers them no more. As a Christian, I strive to live a Christ-centered life. Christ's whole mission testified of God. If God is quick to forgive AND forget, then we should strive to "forget" as well.
One lady said, and this is paraphrasing, "In order to truly forgive, we just need to FORGET about it; let it go. We need to FORGET the wrong choices our children have made. We need to FORGET about the things our parents did that perhaps we didn't agree with. We need to FORGET about the little quarrels or contention we've had with our friends and neighbors and brothers and sisters. If God can FORGET about our sins, we owe each other that same luxury."
As a parent, this doesn't mean I should turn a blind eye to the wrong things my children do. But it does mean that after I do my best to teach and correct them, I need to, as the quote says, "let bygones be bygones."
In my own group of siblings, we all have varying opinions on child-rearing or homemaking skills, etc., but simply put, we don't fight. I can't tell you how many people I know -- adults, mind you -- that tell me they aren't speaking to one of their siblings, or worse one of their parents. It's sad, really.
This is a very foreign concept to me. I don't think any of my siblings or my parents are perfect, and I am positive they will tell you the same about me. I am sure I do things that make them cringe, just like I can truthfully say I have cringed over some things they have done. But this whole concept of forgiving and forgetting, I love.
I hate carrying the burden of being upset with someone. It feels awful. Recently, when someone said some very unkind things to me, I carried that burden. I allowed myself to be hurt. Finally, I had to bury it and move on. So, I did. I packed it up, buried it away and forgave. Now - I hope to just forget about it. It doesn't really matter anyway.
I am sure that as my kids grow older and make choices for themselves, I will not always be proud of all of their choices, just as my parents have probably been disappointed by some of ours. However, I hope I can reflect upon and remember that as children of our Heavenly Father - and we all are - we owe it to each other to give each other the luxury of "Forgiving & Forgetting".
Just one more thing that hit me while I was sitting in the class today, and then I'll get off my soap box...
I think most of us are familiar with the saying that "God is Love". And He is. I remember when I had my first baby. I remember how much I loved him. I loved that baby with every fiber of my being. I would do and give anything for his safety and well-being. He brought so much joy into my life. He was an only child for almost four years before I had my second one. I remember during my second pregnancy, being a little worried and concerned. I wondered, how could I possibly divide my love? Would I have enough love to give to both children? But then the second one came and I didn't have to divide my love at all. I remember rocking my new little newborn in the hospital, and thinking, "Loving this baby doesn't mean I love my other child any less. I don't have to divide my love; there is simply just more to give." It is a phenomenon really. I mean, to give all you have to the first, and then to still have more when the second one is born? It truly amazed me.
And I thought to myself at that time, "I feel like I have just glimpsed into the heart of God. He doesn't divide His love; there is just more to give. He loves ALL of His children."
There is no end to love, after all, is there...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I Just Wanted to Be Good...
I was IMing with someone I knew from my teenage years at church the other day on Facebook. Said-person-from-my-past began to "explain" to me how he and apparently "everybody else from our youth-group" (according to him) thought I was a SNOB during those years.
"Me?" I questioned in disbelief. "A Snob?"
"Yep," he replied matter-of-factly. "You always had this air about you that you were better than the rest of us; or that you thought you were."
I told him...with honest sincerity...
"I am sorry if you thought I was being a snob. But here is what you should know about me. I wanted soooo badly to fit in with the other youth. However, I had 1 sister who was 11 months older and another sister just 12 months younger. And believe it or not, there was not one other girl that was my age. They were either in the older or the younger sibling's grade or Sunday School class, and I just sort of felt left out."
There was one girl, when I was like 5. Laura Lee Lewis. But then her family moved away. And then there was another girl, Carla , but they moved away too when I was still young. When I was 11 a new family moved in. Heidi became my best friend. But shortly thereafter the church building was busting at the seams... and it was already a NEW building. So, they split us up geographically into what we call "wards". Those living in one geographic location were asked to attend the ward at 9am while those living in the other were asked to attend at 11am. This would allow room for everyone. Heidi lived on the complete opposite side of the county, which meant we were split up. In my journal I had even written I was feeling a little "out in left-field" at church and how trying to hang out with either of my sisters' friends felt like I was intruding. It seemed at times my only friends were the children I babysat for, their parents, and my youth leaders.
And as far as "thinking I was better than everyone else", well let me just say that I just wanted to be good. I wanted to be a good Christian. I wanted to be obedient to my parents. I wanted to Choose the Right. I never meant to come off as self-righteous or anything. More so, I was always striving to find perfection in myself, because that is what I thought I was supposed to do. By no means, did I ever have intentions of disregarding anyone or their feelings in the process.
Anyway, this little "revelation" by Said-person-from-my-past-#1 sort of bothered me. Thus, when I was IMing another -person-from-my-past, I told him what I had learned. He said, "I never thought you were snobby. More like, "untouchable". It seemed you were only interested in guys from the other wards." I explained to Said-person-from-my-past-#2, the reason for that was because the boys in our ward were already preoccupied with the other girls. So, I felt like I needed to look elsewhere... (especially after my first love in my ward- broke my heart. Hey, I was only 15... that's a hard thing to recover from.)
I suppose most of it was just this internal desire to push myself. I always felt like I had to push myself to do better; to be better. I still do that to this day. If I think something is important, or worth the risk, I am extremely persistent at it.
I don't know why, but I just felt like I had to defend myself to both of these people from my past. I guess I felt that if any of them truly knew my heart (then AND now), that perhaps they would have seen that I just wanted to be good, I just wanted to be liked, and I just wanted to fit in. They may have also found out that I have a basic love for all people. I talk to anyone and everyone, anywhere...seriously. My kids think it's an illness. (How do you know that woman mom? me: What Woman? them: The one you were talking to in line at the grocery store. me:I don't know her...)
Lesson we've all heard before? Don't judge a book by it's cover. Simply Said, "Christianity 101".
"Me?" I questioned in disbelief. "A Snob?"
"Yep," he replied matter-of-factly. "You always had this air about you that you were better than the rest of us; or that you thought you were."
I told him...with honest sincerity...
"I am sorry if you thought I was being a snob. But here is what you should know about me. I wanted soooo badly to fit in with the other youth. However, I had 1 sister who was 11 months older and another sister just 12 months younger. And believe it or not, there was not one other girl that was my age. They were either in the older or the younger sibling's grade or Sunday School class, and I just sort of felt left out."
There was one girl, when I was like 5. Laura Lee Lewis. But then her family moved away. And then there was another girl, Carla , but they moved away too when I was still young. When I was 11 a new family moved in. Heidi became my best friend. But shortly thereafter the church building was busting at the seams... and it was already a NEW building. So, they split us up geographically into what we call "wards". Those living in one geographic location were asked to attend the ward at 9am while those living in the other were asked to attend at 11am. This would allow room for everyone. Heidi lived on the complete opposite side of the county, which meant we were split up. In my journal I had even written I was feeling a little "out in left-field" at church and how trying to hang out with either of my sisters' friends felt like I was intruding. It seemed at times my only friends were the children I babysat for, their parents, and my youth leaders.
And as far as "thinking I was better than everyone else", well let me just say that I just wanted to be good. I wanted to be a good Christian. I wanted to be obedient to my parents. I wanted to Choose the Right. I never meant to come off as self-righteous or anything. More so, I was always striving to find perfection in myself, because that is what I thought I was supposed to do. By no means, did I ever have intentions of disregarding anyone or their feelings in the process.
Anyway, this little "revelation" by Said-person-from-my-past-#1 sort of bothered me. Thus, when I was IMing another -person-from-my-past, I told him what I had learned. He said, "I never thought you were snobby. More like, "untouchable". It seemed you were only interested in guys from the other wards." I explained to Said-person-from-my-past-#2, the reason for that was because the boys in our ward were already preoccupied with the other girls. So, I felt like I needed to look elsewhere... (especially after my first love in my ward- broke my heart. Hey, I was only 15... that's a hard thing to recover from.)
I suppose most of it was just this internal desire to push myself. I always felt like I had to push myself to do better; to be better. I still do that to this day. If I think something is important, or worth the risk, I am extremely persistent at it.
I don't know why, but I just felt like I had to defend myself to both of these people from my past. I guess I felt that if any of them truly knew my heart (then AND now), that perhaps they would have seen that I just wanted to be good, I just wanted to be liked, and I just wanted to fit in. They may have also found out that I have a basic love for all people. I talk to anyone and everyone, anywhere...seriously. My kids think it's an illness. (How do you know that woman mom? me: What Woman? them: The one you were talking to in line at the grocery store. me:I don't know her...)
Lesson we've all heard before? Don't judge a book by it's cover. Simply Said, "Christianity 101".
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Note
So I forgot to tell you about the note I happened to receive a week ago on Sunday. This guy was so cute as he passed me the following note in church...
It says, "Emu [sound it out... e-muh] I like your glasis". Isn't that sweet? His name is Jaden and he is one of the sweetest 6 year-old boys around! I am lucky that he is one of my neighbors too!
It says, "Emu [sound it out... e-muh] I like your glasis". Isn't that sweet? His name is Jaden and he is one of the sweetest 6 year-old boys around! I am lucky that he is one of my neighbors too!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Christmas Party for 200 Please
Church Christmas Party
So, I got asked to be over the activities at church the end of October. They told me my remaining budget was about $600 oh and by the way, nothing had been planned for Christmas yet. (Yikes!)
I was worried about serving 200 people Christmas Dinner. Plus we would want to decorate, etc. Which means the food would have to be less than $3 per person. Can anyone say Panic? First order of business: get an awesome committee! Check.
Next we had to come up with a theme and food. To me it made sense to go simple and cheap. However, I did not think that hotdogs would fly. "What is cheap and feeds a lot of people?" I asked myself. Immediately I thought of Amish Haystacks. I knew from growing up around my Amish grandparents, cousins, etc., that their typical fundraising dinner - an Amish Haystack dinner - would feed tons and was cheap. Click here for recipe
This lady at church makes these dinner rolls from scratch that are to-die for. She is also used to cooking/catering for large parties. I asked her about making rolls for the Ward Christmas Party and how much she'd charge. She told me she would make 400 rolls if I gave her 25 lbs of flour, 4 lbs of butter and 1 dozen eggs. I couldn't believe it. Things were coming together and I knew that we could get $6 pumpkin pies from Costco that would feed 12-16 people per pie.
That settled it! Once we figured out the food and theme - everything else sort of formed itself.
Theme: Christmas in the Country
Food: Amish Haystack Dinner, homemade rolls, pie for dessert
Entertainment: Country Bumpkin Band & Little Lamb's Choir
Activities: Handmade Ornaments for the kids, Group Sing-A-Long
Decor: Rustic, simple, traditional
The Country Bumpkin Band is actually a family from the neighborhood. Almost all of them play the piano and they agreed to play (for free) Christmas music during dinner.
Table cloths - We called up our local newspaper and asked if they could sell us a roll of plain paper. We got it for $5 and it covered 20 long tables! How cool is that? Clean up's a breeze! And we had enough utensils, napkins and cups from last year. So that meant we just needed to get good sturdy paper plates.
We had some craft tables set up in back. I figured the kids would be done eating way before the adults, and making their own ornament would keep them busy. Some of the young women agreed to help oversee that.
After the Little Lambs choir, we had a group sing-a-long to end the evening.
Here's where we came in for our budget:
So, I got asked to be over the activities at church the end of October. They told me my remaining budget was about $600 oh and by the way, nothing had been planned for Christmas yet. (Yikes!)
I was worried about serving 200 people Christmas Dinner. Plus we would want to decorate, etc. Which means the food would have to be less than $3 per person. Can anyone say Panic? First order of business: get an awesome committee! Check.
Next we had to come up with a theme and food. To me it made sense to go simple and cheap. However, I did not think that hotdogs would fly. "What is cheap and feeds a lot of people?" I asked myself. Immediately I thought of Amish Haystacks. I knew from growing up around my Amish grandparents, cousins, etc., that their typical fundraising dinner - an Amish Haystack dinner - would feed tons and was cheap. Click here for recipe
This lady at church makes these dinner rolls from scratch that are to-die for. She is also used to cooking/catering for large parties. I asked her about making rolls for the Ward Christmas Party and how much she'd charge. She told me she would make 400 rolls if I gave her 25 lbs of flour, 4 lbs of butter and 1 dozen eggs. I couldn't believe it. Things were coming together and I knew that we could get $6 pumpkin pies from Costco that would feed 12-16 people per pie.
That settled it! Once we figured out the food and theme - everything else sort of formed itself.
Theme: Christmas in the Country
Food: Amish Haystack Dinner, homemade rolls, pie for dessert
Entertainment: Country Bumpkin Band & Little Lamb's Choir
Activities: Handmade Ornaments for the kids, Group Sing-A-Long
Decor: Rustic, simple, traditional
The Country Bumpkin Band is actually a family from the neighborhood. Almost all of them play the piano and they agreed to play (for free) Christmas music during dinner.
Table cloths - We called up our local newspaper and asked if they could sell us a roll of plain paper. We got it for $5 and it covered 20 long tables! How cool is that? Clean up's a breeze! And we had enough utensils, napkins and cups from last year. So that meant we just needed to get good sturdy paper plates.
I left the decorating up to a few of the committee members as they are so much better at it than I. And, being in the "Country" meant it could be kept simple. Garlands for the table (the ones we used last year) and punched white paper sacks with 40 battery-operated votives (which a committee member already owned). We also found little country looking wooden boxes stashed away in our supply closet - obviously from a few years ago. We filled those with crayons and set those out on the tables for the kids to color on the paper while waiting for food. (like they do at restaurants)
We had some craft tables set up in back. I figured the kids would be done eating way before the adults, and making their own ornament would keep them busy. Some of the young women agreed to help oversee that.
The Primary Kids agreed to be our "Little Lambs Choir". Holli from our committee made Little Lamb headbands for all of them too. They sang 2 little numbers and the bishop handed them each a candy cane as they got off the stage.
After the Little Lambs choir, we had a group sing-a-long to end the evening. Here's where we came in for our budget:Food (including candy canes) ...........$383
20 pies..................................................$120
sturdy paper plates.............................$20
paper plus 3 vinyl table cloths.............$15
Kids Crafts ............................................$35
raffia, paper sacks, misc decor............$20
entertainment.......................................$0
good time had by all.............................priceless!
TOTAL..................................................$593
Oh - and on a side note...everyone seemed to like the haystacks, though none of them had ever heard of it before. I did learn 2 things - I needed to have more rice and next time use minute rice. Don't worry - the recipe on the link has been modified.
So, that was our party, and I was glad that those who came enjoyed it. It was simple and sweet and yet still a lot of work. My feet were killing me by the end of the evening, but everyone was so great in helping with the clean-up.
I've already got the next year of church activities planned out and can't wait to get started. I'll be sure to keep you posted!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Church Bubbles
So last Sunday, I was playing piano for the little kids during their song time at church. The three year-old class ("The Sunbeam Class") was late coming in. Their row is right up front, near the piano. And since they were late, the teacher was trying to get them in quietly. This is what I hear next - and in very loud "outdoor" voices:
Sunbeam #1: Who Farted?
Teacher: Shhh....
Sunbeam #2: Yeah! It smells like a FART!!!
Teacher: Shhh...
Sunbeam #3: Sometimes when I Fart I feel bubbles!
At this point the teacher the teacher tries to "shush" them again. She looks at me and can't contain her giggle any more. We both start cracking up. I begin to laugh so hard I cry, and can't hardly see the music on the page in front of me.
Ahhh - the joy and honesty of 3 year-olds. Quite refreshing, isn't it? (Unless it smells like a Fart!)
Sunbeam #1: Who Farted?
Teacher: Shhh....
Sunbeam #2: Yeah! It smells like a FART!!!
Teacher: Shhh...
Sunbeam #3: Sometimes when I Fart I feel bubbles!
At this point the teacher the teacher tries to "shush" them again. She looks at me and can't contain her giggle any more. We both start cracking up. I begin to laugh so hard I cry, and can't hardly see the music on the page in front of me.
Ahhh - the joy and honesty of 3 year-olds. Quite refreshing, isn't it? (Unless it smells like a Fart!)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
How to Save Church
I love going to church, really I do. The funny thing I've noticed about church, no matter if it was when I lived in Indiana, Hawaii or Utah, is the characters rarely change. Correct me if I'm wrong, but these "types" seem to be in every church...Sister Gossip - If you wanna know what's going on with ANYONE at church, Sister Gossip is sure to know. She thrives on getting up in everyone's "bidness". She is the Harriet Oleson of the congregation and she usually starts sentences with, "I don't usually gossip, but..." and "You didn't hear this from me, but..."
Mister Scriptorian - In my experience, this person is usually a man. He knows the scriptures inside and out and it doesn't stop there, either. He knows the exact spot in the exact village where Jesus turned the water into wine. He knows what year the Tower of Babel was erected off the top of his head. He is very pleased with his plethora of knowledge, and will gladly share it even when you DIDN'T ask.Granny Goody-Goody - This is the old lady that sits and watches and keeps tabs on who is or isn't there. She is quick to cast judgment pointing out other people's sins, and "breathing" hellfire and damnation. Basically like SNL's Church Lady. "Could it be...SATAN???"
Then there are other characters like the couple with 20 kids, the lady with the HUGE bouffant hairstyle to match her big bootie, the do-gooder family that is always feeding the homeless or babysitting for free. There's the woman that loves to sing in church, though her voice may be a bit overbearing. There is the old man with the plaid suit who's hearing aid is turned up so loud you can hear the squealing throughout the chapel. There is the weird guy that seems just a little "off" due to years of drug abuse before finding Jesus, and of course don't forget the Perfects!Brother and Sister Perfect have a Perfect Marriage, a Perfect House and Perfect Children. Brother Perfect has the Perfect job while Sister Perfect gets to stay at home and bake her Perfectly-Perfect Peach Pie Perfection. And they are just so happy, always smiling, and seriously, so blessed and everything in their lives is so....perfect!
Ok, so now that we have the characters down (you recognized some, right?) let's talk about how to "save church". I'm talking about those Sundays that it's just hard to be there (even tho, like I said, I LOVE church). Perhaps you're too tired to listen or the speaker is a little dry (this never happens, right?). In any case, you're there and you don't want to get up and leave cuz you don't want to offend anyone or let on that you're bored, plus it's just not the right thing to do, right? So, here are some things (Heaven knows I've done) in an effort to "save church".
Thumb through the hymnal - pretty soon you find yourself thinking, "hey - that's a good one. We haven't sang that one in a long time". Or maybe you're reading the words and realize that you never really knew what that song was even about until just that second. You may not be listening to the talk, but at least looking at the lyrics to a hymn is good for the soul.
Make lists - I am a good list maker during church. I have made lists of menu items for an upcoming party as well as who to invite. What things to pack if I'm going out of town. Names I always wished I could have given my children. Or anything else I can come up with. Now, the key to making lists, is to look up at the speaker every few seconds. This will make it appear to everyone around you that you are taking copius notes. If anything, you will notice THEM straighten up a little in their seats. See, now you've got them thinking, "Wow - if she's taking notes, this must be important. I'd better pay attention."
Help with Small Children - Start a little finger play with the kid in front of you that continues to turn around and stare. Let the crying child come and sit by you so you can "help" them color. If you have a lot of little kids at your church, start carrying snackies in your bag, for emergencies; there are sure to be a lot of emergencies when
People-Watch - ok, so though this alternative won't save your social graces or your soul, it is the most fun. This is probably the number one thing I do at church. In part, I can't help it cuz I am a fidgeter and my mind just wanders. It is very hard for me to sit still. Anywho, here are just some of things I have noticed in my church-people-watching experience:
- Family A is irritated cuz Family B sat in their pew! How dare they! Don't they know that Family A ALWAYS sits there???
- The organist and chorister struggling for musical "power". The organist will either play too fast or too slow while the chorister tries to maintain the beat. Sorry sister, even if the organ SHOULD follow you - half the congregation doesn't even know what your waving arm means. They are gonna follow the organ. You lose.
- Spanking Parents. You can always pick out the spanking parents in church. Their kids start to act up and they do not want others to know about their little discipline style, so they are acting all sweet. Give it a few minutes, and soon you'll see gritted teeth through their fake smiles. Finally, it's a dead giveaway when the dad "reaches" for Tommy's arm and Tommy yells, "OUCH! You're HURTING me!" Or when he takes Temper-Tantrum Susie out and on the way she is screaming, "No! I don't wanna go out! I don't want you to spank me!!!"
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