We See You by Angie Fuller
We see you, parents.
We see you walking into church on Sunday morning with a harried face because you already fought battles with your kids to get dressed and out the door.
We see you trying to focus during worship as your child pokes you for what must be the 48th time in 48 minutes.
We see you lowering your hymnbook to your child’s level and following the text with your finger.
We see you shushing your child’s raspy whisper or an argument among siblings.
We see you urging your child to go participate in the Children’s Moment.
We see you helping in childcare even though you’re exhausted.
We see you steadying your child who’s standing on the chair or pew to see the screen or the pulpit.
We see you wishing to be invisible as you pick up something your child loudly dropped.
We see you whispering answers to your child’s questions about communion or baptism.
We see you improvising another word game on the worship bulletin to get through five more minutes.
We see you checking the time because you have other places to get to on Sunday and it would have been easier to stay home.
And you know what? It’s GREAT to see you! It’s great to see your kids AND hear them! Because when you’re a parent of young children, you can only see the interruptions and notice how you CAN’T really worship.
But we can see farther.
We can see your kids wanting to spend time in their faith community as teenagers because it’s familiar.
We can see them learning to pray, listen, and worship in their own ways as they grow.
We can see them in small groups in college because they want to grow and be held accountable.
We can see them finding churches of their own as young adults because they know that God intended for their week to have a rhythm that restores, nurtures, and challenges them.
We can see them as prodigals, rediscovering church after a long absence, because deep in their core they know it’s what they need.
We can see them seeking authentic faith communities that will carry them through the deep valleys ahead of them.
We can see your kids as the Church in 2033 and beyond.
You know what else? They see YOU.
They see you going to your own community group or Bible study class.
They hear you singing and speaking in the responsive reading.
They notice you introducing yourself to someone new.
They watch you take communion and pray.
They notice that you prioritize God and your faith family – even when you’re tired or busy.
Keep going. Even when it’s hard, keep showing up.
You are seen and loved not just by our 2BC community, but more importantly by our God, who welcomes you as you are… AND your wiggly little disciples!