‘Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”‘
Matthew 19:14

I was raised in a great home, but not one where faith was prioritised. Until I was fifteen, I knew nothing of a God who loved me and would go to great lengths to have relationship with me. Overnight, my discovery of Jesus changed the direction of my life. I don’t know what it’s like to go through childhood with an awareness of the spiritual world. For this reason, I sometimes feel I’ll-equipped to teach my children what it means to have a relationship with God.

As parents, isn’t it true that sometimes we are hyper-aware of the areas we feel like we are failing, or not enough, that we miss the great things we have done for our kids?

Completely by accident, I discovered last week that I have in fact done something great for my little boy: I have given him the Church. At times, it is really hard to be an involved, serving, leading, member of the church with little ones, but one simple conversation with my two year old, reminded me that it is so worth it.

While playing with his cars (an activity that occupies around 75% of his waking hours), Jasper looked up at me and, quite matter-of-factly, stated:
“Mummy, I can talk to God. It’s called PRAYING. We do it at church and I talk to God in my bed. At church they teach me praying and I talk to God about you, mama”.

He’s two.

This is the strength of the local church: in the area where I feel like I am letting this amazing child down, some other beautiful soul, serving downstairs on a Sunday, unbeknownst to me, has taught him to commune with his creator. My little boy is praying for his mama.

This child has been loved and encouraged by the church family since he was born, he has received abundantly more input, perspective and care than we could have given on our own. I truly believe that my greatest strength as a mother is that I do not even try to carry the burden of raising little people, little disciples, on my own, but that I give them the Body of Christ as their family. ymMy children will never remember a time when they were not part of the family of God. In my family, the will be the first generation that I know of who can say this!

Church can be hard, emotionally, logistically, even financially, especially with little ones, but it is a vehicle through which God redeems generations; it is a place to give and receive encouragement (and parents of toddlers need PLENTY of that!). It is a blessing to belong in a local church and I am so thankful that Energizer Church loves my children so well.

– Jen Grubb