Hold your Child in Church and Receive a Blessing from God

Through my own personal experience I hope to offer a small bit of wisdom that may bring tremendous joy to a few people this Christmas season. Lately I have had several conversations with people about children in Church and how they should act and whether or not they should be in the sanctuary during preaching. I know in this day and time with the mega Churches offering huge child care facilities on sight it is tempting to parade your child off to another part of the Church. However, for myself, I believe a child should be present during preaching and teaching once they reach the age of 2 to 4 years depending on the child. That doesn’t mean I am totally against children going to the child care facilities all together. You are going to have cases when a child needs to get away and some times the parents need some worship time without their children. If you find yourself never having your children with you during preaching you should maybe rethink your position. I know some of you are going to say “my child will not mind” or children are a disruption to the service” or “to the move of God”. I say that is absolutely not true! First, you control your child not the other way around. Second, a child can not stop, disturb or impede God in any way. True sometimes children can disturb service but that is a moment by moment balancing act and a small risk worth taking. The Bible teaches us to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Pro 22:6). Even Jesus himself pointed out the importance of children in Matthew 19:14 when he said “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Just a few days ago I was standing during praise and worship at our Wednesday night service while the music was playing with my eyes closed and my hands raised trying to spend some time fellowshipping with God. My 3 year old son Michael, who had been quietly playing with a couple of matchbox cars tapped my on the leg. When I opened my eyes and looked down at him, he had a huge smile on his face and both hands reaching up to me. I was instantly overcome with joy. Now looking back I see a very symbolic importance on him reaching up to me while I was reaching up to my Father as well, but that is another story I suppose. When I saw him reaching up for me I didn’t hesitate to reach down and pick him up. Once in my arms I gave him a kiss on the cheek, told him I loved him and went right back to praising God with my eyes closed and one hand stretched up towards God. Well Michael wasn’t done with me just yet. He started to rub my face and rub my head while I was focusing on God. Well, once again I opened my eyes and looked at him; this time to my surprise he planted a kiss right on my face. After that sweet and gentle act of love from a son to his father he then proceeded to pay attention to the music and stretch out his hands to God as well. At that moment I felt pride and joy and love that my writing ability can not convey to you the reader. I was so happy in that single moment that I thought I would just bust into tears uncontrollably. Needless to say that small gift that was given to me by my son and God was like a spiritual lighting rod for the rest of the service. I discovered in an age of high tech equipment and satellite everything; sometimes you can still use a basic antenna to get the signal to come in just a little clearer. This Christmas season, go to Church and hold your child during praise and worship. Let them sit on your lap during preaching. Hold their hand while walking to the altar. If you try this just maybe you’ll have a really great moment etched in your memory like I do. At the very least you may just make your child happy! May God Bless each and every one of you!

Matthew Hilley