We got invited to a 1st communion this weekend. The sweetest invitation came along with a personal ask from Megan's best-est friend Jessica. So, of course Megan and I went.
We got there too late to be seated with the family on the main floor and were directed to the balcony. Once we sat down and truly looked around, I was so glad we got to have a birds-eye view, cause it was really cool. Not knowing what to expect, Megan was on the edge of her seat with a million questions. I was hard pressed at times to put into words symbolic acts that made sense to me, but my daughter wanted explained. Of course, isn't that the way of most religious instruction with our children?
The entire service was very meaningful. Ritual is certainly powerful and I was touched by many parts of the service. At one point, I grabbed my bible cause the passage they were reading was just after something I had been studying that week and wanted to read along. This drew a comment from the other woman beside me, and made me realize how much I just need to see the words.
Something has stayed with me this whole weekend. The priest mentioned several times to the parents, "7 or 8 years ago you stood here for the baptism of these children and today you are here taking the next step." What a great reminder as a parent. The commitments made when our children are young are meant to be kept and the systematic manner in which the Catholic church marks growth allows for accountability. How cool is that?! I spent some time thinking of the commitments I have made with and for my own children, and have begun to evaluate where I am with those.
So, that is my thought for today...where am I with my children's religious education and where did I mean to be?
where am I with my children's religious education and where did I mean to be?
great thought! now to figure out where I am and where I meant to be?
Posted by: Chrissy | May 11, 2009 at 05:14 PM