Messy Sunday Mornings

Before kids, I had this illusion that Sunday mornings would be no big deal. We would, of course, attend services every week, and getting us there would be simple. As a child, we frequently showed up late to church, and I was sure that was my mom’s fault for not being more on top of things. (Mom, I humbly apologize. I am amazed that you managed to get 5 kids to church every week. You are my hero!). 

Maybe you’ve had a Sunday like mine. My toddler woke up at 4 am because her sleeping schedule got off kilter over the weekend. I had to take Benadryl because of dealing with random hives, so I was particularly groggy between meds and sleep deprivation. I put lunch in the crockpot and managed to get breakfast out for my 3 little people. After sending the big ones to get dressed, I bathed the now-cranky two year old. I then wrapped her in a towel and headed to my son’s room to fix his wardrobe crisis. I placed the swaddled toddler on my son’s bed where she promptly fell sound asleep. Then I helped my oldest get curlers out of her hair. I realized it was too late for me to take a shower, so I searched for a youtube tutorial on messy buns and promptly created one that was somehow not quite the “messy-chic” vibe I was hoping for. With 10 minutes before we needed to leave for church, I woke and dressed an upset toddler whose impromptu nap was interrupted. We made it to church in time for the first song. And I just wanted to sit there and never move again. 

So many Sundays I show up feeling like I’m drowning – or, at best, treading water. So, why do we do it mommas? As Wesley, disguised as the dread pirate Roberts, so aptly put it, “Faithfulness…madam, your enduring faithfulness.” 

When we show up, in our messy, imperfect efforts, week after week, we are modeling to our children faithfulness to our Jesus. He doesn’t require us to get our stuff together before coming into His presence. He doesn’t ask us to have an exemplary morning before showing up at church. He asks us to come just as we are. Hot mess and all. 

We want our kids to know they are always loved no matter what. When we keep showing up at church, even through – or maybe, especially through – the hard Sundays, we are showing our kids that God knows us and loves us and accepts us because of Jesus. I want my kids to know that God loves them no matter how messy their lives are. I want them to always have the confidence to turn to Him. 

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells a story about some hypothetical servants who are left in charge of their master’s possessions while he is out of the country. The responsibility given to each servant is different, but the master’s expectation for each is the same: faithfulness. To the servants who lived up to this expectation, the master responded “ Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.” (Matthew 25:21) 

Sweet momma friend, God may have given you different responsibilities than mine, but He expects the same thing from us both: faithfulness. Faithfulness to “write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about

them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.” (Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 The Message) 

So, next Sunday morning, whether everything is chaotic or calm, practice faithfulness. When you’re putting your kids to bed, practice faithfulness. When you ride in the car or eat a meal – even if it is fast food drive-thru – practice faithfulness. As you hug your kids, love them, discipline and guide them, practice the faithfulness of pointing them to the Father, Whose faithfulness reaches “to the clouds” (Psalm 36:5 ESV)