A friend linked to this article on his Facebook page, and it's something we all need to read! This is only part, if you'd like to read it all, check here...
...Because if the normal noises of normal children are going to distract
me, I was going to be distracted anyway. By cute clothes or cute men
or split ends or whatever.
And nobody’s suggesting that we wear burqas to Mass or segregate our
congregations or require frequent trims. Unlike most of the thoughts
that grab my easily-distracted mind, the screams of your children are a
distraction that draw me to deeper prayer.
So take them to the cry room if you want–or stay in the pew. Lord
knows that at many churches if you’re in the cry room you’re practically
not at Mass, it’s such a circus in there. Keep them as quiet as you
can however you want to–I won’t judge. They’re going to be ridiculous
and you’re gong to be embarrassed, but taking them to Mass gives them
grace, earns you years off of purgatory, and breaks my hardened heart
just a little bit.
On behalf of those of us who don’t understand the sacrifices you make
to bring your kids to the wedding feast, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for
judging you and being annoyed at you and rolling my eyes and everything
else that focuses on me instead of on us. Your kids are a very
important part of us, even–especially–when they won’t stop yelling.
Because yes, your kids are distracting me. They’re distracting me
from my narcissism. They’re distracting me from the idol I’ve made of
worship, making me encounter God as he really is, not as I want
him to be. They’re distracting me from the endless series of
irrelevant thoughts that occupy my “praying” mind.
Your screaming kids are distracting me. Thank you for that.
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