Back in 2000, I was a new Mom and my little Thinker was just a baby, and one Sunday morning, my heart dropped significantly to hear our pastor make a firm announcement about the baby-bringing-to-Mass policy. He stated in very clear terms, any child making noise should be escorted promptly to the ‘cry room’ in the back. Feeling my face flush red hot nervousness, I contemplated ever returning with my baby again. Perhaps HH and I would take shifts, and *gulp* never return as a complete family to God’s house for Mass.
I fear many parents have been in our same shoes and have chosen a path of tag-team which God, will bless their efforts with many graces, I am sure.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.” It’s clear He wants our children to be not only close to Him, but to pray, to be referent, to find a friend in our Lord. How can our children come to Him, without causing a great disturbance for all others near us? How can we teach them the ‘specialness’ of being near and with Jesus? How can we teach them to settle themselves enough to be able to speak, heart to heart, with their Lord? This is OUR job. God gives us a job in the process of bringing the children to Him.
That day will forever be marked in my mind, as the day, I made a commitment, “Yes, Lord, I will bring my children to you, and prove children can learn proper behavior, in that attempt to bring to them to the fullness of your friendship and love.”
I was a stubborn one. I was obstinate. Let the children come to Him?.....ok, I will, and my kids will learn, somehow, that this is God’s house, and He has rules for His house. Thus began the different strategies of the many years following…..the many years of training, not just training the children, but training myself, as an effective parent…guiding them.
How I wish I had this Michael Rayes book back in those early years! So many lessons we have learned over the years, are featured in this ‘How To’ book by Rayes. This practical method, including worksheets for both parents to complete, isn’t just a step by step process to attentive children in Mass….it gives explanations to the parents as well, on how to teach, how to work as a team, how to strategize, how to succeed. And it wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t have the ‘whys’ of such instruction, which it does. It's more than just good behavior, that the parent wants, as we know that the good behavior is a jumping point to start from. The children must have a sense of that 'specialness' of the Mass in order to begin bringing the depth of our rich Catholic Faith to their level of understanding. Faith formation starts with good behavior.
Divided into eight chapters, there is an ease about the writing, a familiarity with the author, as truly a Catholic writer, who has been in the trenches you might be currently seeing yourself in.
HH and I have ourselves tried many tactics over the years, and I can speak from first hand experience. We have received countless compliments on how our children behave in Mass, and it’s a constant effort on our part to keep up the work. It’s not done after one day. It’s a weekly, daily effort to present God to the children in ways they can understand, appreciate and contemplate for themselves. These strategies work, as outlined in this book, however, it’s not magic. Things don’t just happen with the children over night due to a good read. It takes parents’ commitment to the process, it takes parents willing to take the time, effort and willpower to institute these teachings.
Jesus said let the little children come to Him. OK, did He say anything about how? Take this book, as a sign from God, here’s the “How” you’ve been looking for. Don’t let this opportunity to learn the "How" and attend as a whole united family, pass you by. God will bless your efforts ten-fold, and as a parent, we are the first teachers for our children. We are the domestic church. It's up to us.
Yes, let the children come to Him, and prepare to teach them along the path. God gave you this vocation. Take it seriously, and move your children one step at a time, or one day at a time for ’28 Days’ and see what results you find. You’ll be amazed. You’ll begin to learn from them, as they share their own lights with you. Invest in your children, and you’ll find the reward to be greater than you ever imagined.
God bless you!
Here's a link for more information on the book: http://www.rafkapress.com/Products/28Days/
***Disclosure - I receive no payment for my reviews, only a free book to read.
I simply want to share good books that might assist or inspire you.
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