“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

When I was just a small child, my parents made a point of taking me to church every Sunday. It seemed ridiculous to me when I entered my teen years. I wanted to sleep in on Sunday mornings. Besides, church always made me feel bad about myself. All they ever talked about was sin. Guilt had been pounded into my brain for my first 30 years or so. It seemed like nothing but a habit that was hurting my self-image. As time went by and I married the love of my life; I realized I had married my dad. He also insisted on Sunday church attendance. So, we’d bundle up the wee ones and plan to take them out of the sanctuary the minute they started to fuss. Again, I thought, “I’m not getting anything out of this service. Why am I here?”

As I remember those early years, I finally started to hear the Gospel message. All that sin I heard about had been forgiven. How could I, such a miserable sinner, deserve that kind of love? I certainly wasn’t a criminal, but I was daily haunted by the guilt of past sins. It just didn’t feel right that someone loved me that much. Someone who was willing to do everything to bring me to heaven one day.

I started going to Bible studies. I met others who had the same problems I was dealing with. raising small children. Trying to protect, teach, put up with and guide them. Dealing with financial problems. Feeling poorly about myself. Facing health issues. Attempting to live life the way the world expected and failing miserably. There was never an “Ah-ha moment,” but a slow learning and growing process was taking place in my heart. I realize now that my parents weren’t trying to pound religion into my head and neither was my husband. It was a gift that the Holy Spirit burned into my heart when I was baptized. I didn’t accept Jesus. He accepted me. He gave His life so I could live forever.

I started to look at church attendance in a different way. I began involving myself in activities and ways to serve God. I gained all kinds of new friends – people I knew I could trust – those who carried the same kind of baggage – those who were blessed with the unconditional love of the One True God. I began to feel like part of a big family. We shared time with our new friends outside of church. We compared notes on childrearing. We encouraged each other. We offered support and comfort to those who desperately needed it.

Worshipping with these newfound friends became something I looked forward to. Sundays became my time to praise and thank God – a time to learn from God’s Word – a time to pray for those in need – a routine which was welcomed, not a habit. When it becomes necessary for me to stay home from church, I feel like a huge chunk of my week is missing. It also makes me want to tell others what I’ve gained from these weekly visits and how it has changed my life.

We all need to belong to something greater than we are. There is no one greater than our Creator God. He loves us with a love that cannot be described in human terms. He made us. He wants us to repent of our sins and change the way we live, but His unselfish Spirit is unleashed upon us, giving us the peace of knowing life doesn’t end when we die.

Somehow, in the busyness of the twenty first century, church going has fallen by the wayside, but why is that? Cannot we give up such a small amount of time to the One who gave us life now and in eternity? We need to get back into the groove of teaching our children what’s really important. The stories they hear in Sunday School; the friends they acquire through church activities; the life lessons that will give them confidence, assurance and the truth that they are children of God; are gifts they will thank you for some day. We are following Jesus’ lead when He tells us to come to Him and receive rest.

Come to church. There are people just like you, waiting to meet you. They want to get to know you and have you as part of their lives. God is there too and He can’t wait to touch your heart with His love. It’s a great place to learn, to help others, to receive the love of God and to find solace in this new home waiting for you.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY!