We’ve been spending some time on who is serving who in the church….and I’ve talked lots about those who attend. Today, it continues….

Today people come and go, sampling different churches, even beliefs, like a buffet. I think it comes from being a little bit ‘lost’ in their daily ‘comings and goings’. When my friends and I were little..church was a delightful part of our life. Now that doesn’t mean we were up and ready to go each AM on Sunday. It does mean that it was part of our household, our neighborhood, and our town. I guess the unspoken rule was that there was, in our country, the obligation, the promise, the dedication, yes, even the commitment, to be up dressed and in one’s seat when the organ began the prelude.

It was a time when faith and one’s faith was held in high esteem….when it was important that all ages attended the church. Now we see that this hour or two is demanding more attention than ever before….and it ain’t church that is doing the demanding. Now don’t get ahead of me, cause I’m not going to blame soccer, grocery stores, movies, national sporting events, or any other organization for luring folks away from faith…..Nope, it is all those who used to be in the pew, that have made the decision to change, some may call ‘update’ their lifestyle. I am very serious about using the term ‘there was a time’…because today younger families are making other choices. This is a life lesson we are talking about here….and it is a big one. The church, your church, is just as important tody as it was when I was a little girl in the early 40’s.

Church attendance was a ‘no questions asked’ responsibility, held by all ages. No one in my family could ‘pass’ because they got in late, felt a headache coming on, had homework, or any other excuse we all tried. You did it…that was it. And you know what……..that was good…..and you know what…it still IS GOOD! My parents gave me a faith foundation….and I will be grateful to them forever. I wasn’t too happy at the time, but, as with all life lessons, being happy was not the point. For my family, GOD!!! and my growing relationship with Him, was the point.

I think we sometimes forget about the good a life lesson will bring, and worry about how much fun it is going to be as we learn it! I don’t remember laughing out loud when I learned to tie my shoes, or recited multiplication tables, or tearing the hem of my dress out cause it was poorly done. Well, I shall not lie, church was not my favorite place to be each and every Sunday, and truth be known, I bet my parents would have liked to have slept in too, BUT, that was not an option. And that dedication, that obligation, that commitment to me and to God, is what built that invisible foundation I build on today.

I urge you to ‘reconnect’ with your life lesson list. Look into the eyes of your kids, and help them realize their own personal faith foundation. Look into renewing your own faith vows….begin this Sunday, you’ll never regret it…