When I was little we would wake up every Sunday morning to the smell of warm pancakes and syrup being made by my dad. It was the one morning he was in charge of the kitchen and I felt like he truly enjoyed making those pancakes for his family. We would stuff our faces, dress in our Sunday best and drive to church.
We were at church "every time the doors were open" as the saying goes. We went every Sunday morning, evening and on Wednesdays for the more relaxed services. We went to every single potluck, birthday party, singing special, and mission trip. My dad sang in choir, my mom helped in nursery and I went to all of the children activities and as I got older, the teen functions.
It's when I graduated high school that things changed for me. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders that I could not hold on my own yet I looked in all the wrong places for help. I ended up working my young life away and moving away from church and the family/friends I once leaned so heavily upon. This is where I made the most mistakes in life but God never gave up on me and that's the very honest truth.
So here I am, 38, married with 3 personality filled girls living in Chicago as a stay at home mom. I still don't always make the best choices but after having my third daughter, I realized the Lord was really trying to get my attention to follow his path for me.
I started with baby steps of course because I can't make anything easy on myself. I joined a local MOPs group. This one small choice would change my life. I fit in like a glove, like I had been there for years, like everyone already knew everything about me and loved me still. It's in this MOPs group I would learn to find myself again and follow the path God has been pushing me towards.
I then decided to join the bible study at the church where our MOPs meetings are held. This bible study is changing my life just as much as MOPs has but on a much deeper level.
Small changes can equal big rewards, right?!
I think so!
So I took my beautiful little ladies to church yesterday. They were anxious as they've really never been to church other than when we visit my home church in TN so they were not sure what to expect. One by one I peeled them off my body and into their Sunday School classrooms and made my way into service. I took a deep breath and walked in. They were singing one of MY FAVORITE songs! Immediately I felt the Lords spirit and knew I was home.
Sundays for my family will be continuing my dads tradition and waking my girls up to warm pancakes and syrup before dresses them in their best and driving off to church.
