An Unexpected Place of Worship

This last week at church, I experienced something beautiful.  I didn't fully realize I was in the midst of something sacred at the time because my surroundings were far from what you would consider worship like.   Now that Zach has reached a new phase of exploration and wiggle-ness, it is almost impossible to make it through a whole church service without having to step out.  This particular week was no different.  I remember feeling somewhat resentful as I gathered our things and made our way to the mother's room.

{My husband, Mike, is a pastor which means that I tackle church on my own on most weeks.  It's a reality I am learning to accept but it is not something I have always embraced graciously.  This is an area of my heart the Lord is continually seeking to lead into a deeper level of trust and dependence on Him.}  

The mother's room at church is not what I would consider a sacred space . This week however, I realized that God's presence and blessing were there.  God revealed Himself to me through the casual interaction I had with two other mom's and their children.  As we sat there with our kids, talking about them, and sharing about current happenings, a sense of peace, contentment, and joy filled me.  Although, I didn't reflect on these feelings at the time, they were signaling the presence of blessing. In  that small circle was the true essence of corporate worship.  

I received:

• Acceptance without judgement
• A shared understanding of the difficulties and joys of parenting
• Genuine interest in one another and our experiences
• The joy of being in relationship with other women
• A realization that grace has brought us together to raise our children alongside one another
• A live testimony of God's blessing on each of our lives through the little babies he has given us

Today, as I was thinking about the beauty of that moment.  The Lord brought other memories about my two friends, Ali and Jeanne, and the journey we have traveled together over the last couple of years.  

We were pregnant at the same time with our second babies and were able to share our unique experiences with each other. I was on bed rest the last two months of pregnancy due to threatened pre-term labor.  When Ali reached the 29 week mark, she called me because she was worried about early contractions.  I tried to reassure her that everything would be fine.  My baby Zach was born on August 26th, his due date.  Ali's little Peter was born August 27th, two months early.  I remember interceding for her knowing she was now living the reality that I had feared I would have to live.  Jeanne's,  baby Isabella, came two months later, on Peter's actual due date.  During our pregnancies we laughed together, prayed for each other, worried for the other, and rejoiced when we all had our babies.  

                                       

With our babies at Matthew's three year birthday party

                                           Yesterday's picture during our "Worship" time

I thank the Lord for friends to share the journey with.  I feel blessed to have these women (and other incredible women too :)  in my life.  They teach me, inspire me, and challenge me.  Even though, I don't often feel like I can truly be a part of a church service at this time in my life, I am thankful that God shows up in mother's rooms and blesses us moms with the richness of being in relationship.  I am awed by how beautifully the Spirit works in each of our lives, weaving and integrating our experiences together.  I am humbled by the grace of it all.  

Lord, thank you for the richness that comes from being in relationship with other women.  Thank you for showing up in unexpected places and blessing our momma hearts.  Father, graciously bless all my friends that have little ones. You know our struggles, our sacrifice, our loneliness, our guilt, our striving for perfection, our feelings of inadequacy, and our yearning for more of you.  Meet us in our weakness.  Fill the gaps that we leave in our wake.  Give abundantly to our families, Lord.  Hear our prayers for those we love and seek to influence for Your Kingdom.  Thank you for grace. Amen.