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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Worship (corporate) (10/04/07)
hurry, Hurry, HuRRy, HURRY UP! My thoughts were racing as I lugged my 6-year-old across the church parking lot with her wrist in my tightly gripped palm. “Mommy, this shoe isn’t tight enooooough!” she whined while stomping her foot on the pavement for dramatic effect. “You’ll live! I’ve tied it three times already, now hurry up!” My barking softened to a whine, “Come on, sweetie, I don’t want to be late for worship time.” We funneled through the crowd inside the building, somewhat lopsided from her dragging and me pulling. Oh boy, lots of familiar faces. “Hi, I’m fine. How are you?” Boy, can I fake it when I need to. “Hey there!” Big plastered smile.

The smile quickly turned upside down. “What!?! Her room is full,” I huffed to the check-in lady, What’s-Her-Name. “You’ve GOT to be kidding!” Oh, what’s the point? Great, now my daughter is crying, and I am fuming, but we will not miss the worship time, no sir-ee! I scooped her up in my arms, set my eyes straight ahead as to not make eye contact with anyone and darted into the church service out of sheer determination to get my fix. I yell-whispered a “HUSH IT” into my daughter’s flushed ear, and she dug her head into my shoulder to end her whimpering.

Bummer! It’s already started, I complained inside my mind. Down one aisle, nope, no seat. Down the next….So much for being discreet. Oh, there was a spot in the middle…I wish those people would move in. No such luck. “Sorry, excuse me,” I half-heartedly uttered through my clinched teeth while trying not to step on anyone’s foot or purse or Bible. There. I released a deep breath, thankful that it was finally time to worship. My little one decided that it was finally time to tighten her shoe. I tightened it, alright! And put a triple knot in it. She looked up at me with those red eyes and started to plead…. No way! After seeing my “don’t you dare” glare, she changed her mind about asking me to attend to the other shoe.

Everyone was clapping and swaying as I dug desperately through my purse to find something with kid appeal. If she will just leave me alone, then—THEN I can finally sing. “Here, sweetie, draw me a picture of worship,” I pleaded as she grabbed the notebook and pen I had found. There. All settled. I began to praise with a grin as big as Texas on my face. “It’s all about You,” I sang. It repeated once. Wow, those drums are loud. Oh well. “It’s all about You, Jesus,” I belted out…until I noticed my Bible study leader across the aisle. I wondered why she wasn’t singing. That’s strange. I couldn’t help but hope that my mentor would notice me giving my all to the Lord in robust praise. The last chord of the guitar strummed, and I was so bummed! I reluctantly took my seat along with the others. It’s time to sit down already? I just got here.

Oh good, they’re starting another song. Ah, yes, “We fall down, we lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus….”In the middle of this worshipful moment, right NOW! What are they talking about? I restrained myself from tapping the shoulders of the two ladies conversing in front of me. The guy two rows up to the left took a drink of his out of his shiny silver coffee mug. We’re worshipping, people!

As I sat heartbroken in that spot bravely holding back the tears, I looked down at my daughter, fully expecting to be interrupted by her again. And I was.

She sat there melted into the pew with her head and her hands raised toward heaven. On her lap sat her sketch—Jesus hanging on the cross with thorns on His head and nails in His hands---The top read, “My Pikcher of Wership.” It wasn’t a sketch—no—it was a MASTERpiece! Lord, forgive me. My heart has been so selfish!

In was in that unexpected moment that I finally got to worship, and it had nothing to do with the music, nothing to do with the crowd, and it especially had nothing to do with me.

In that true moment of worship, it was finally ALL about Him.

“I will thank the LORD with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.”
Psalm 111:1 (NLT)
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This article has been read 2132 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Laury Hubrich 
10/11/07
"She sat there melted into the pew with her head and her hands raised toward heaven. On her lap sat her sketch—Jesus hanging on the cross with thorns on His head and nails in His hands---The top read, “My Pikcher of Wership.” It wasn’t a sketch—no—it was a MASTERpiece! Lord, forgive me. My heart has been so selfish!"

Wow! Love that part. Leave it to our kids to teach us. Great job!
Laury
Leanna Roe
10/11/07
I loved all of it. It reminded me of all the times I nearly missed out on something special because stressful situations. Great Job!
Dianne Janak
10/11/07
This was so real. So all of us. So telling. So earthy and convicting. OUCH! and yet somehow we finally get there and get it again. Its not about us.. its about Him. No wonder He loves teh children with such fervor!
Jan Ackerson
10/12/07
The ending of this piece is simply outstanding, because it was so utterly unexpected. If you work on this some more, think about finding ways to make the first part more unique. The I'm-late-for-church story has been told many, many times before.

Your writing is very good--if you take more risks like you did at the end, you'll go far.
Joanne Sher 
10/12/07
The end is wonderful. Such a wonderful message for us busy ones. Keep writing.
j. mariposa
10/15/07
'Loved it! So many of us have been there, and will probably go there again...
I don't think you need to do a thing to this; Every day occurances touch the heart deeper than the unusual and remote...Your story moved well; it didn't drag anywhere; it was funny and believable...and my experience with the beginning was one of familiarity; not boredom. The middle worked, and the ending was well executed.
God Bless you on your journey...
Joy Mounce
10/16/07
I agree, the ending gave me chills it was so genuine/real!
Peter Stone
10/18/07
What a beautiful article! The little 'un reminds me of my three year old, and my frequent prayers of "Please Lord, keep him happy, just for 5 minutes so I can finish what I'm doing!"
I loved your description of how often we can lose our focus and become caught up with life's little irritations instead of realising that it really is all about Him. And the ending is so moving. I love the way God uses things such as a child's innocent attitude to get our attention. Well done.
Sheri Gordon
10/19/07
Congratulations on your highly commended. The message in this is priceless. Good job with the topic.
Tim Pickl
10/19/07
Out of the mouths of babes, God has perfected praise! Laura, isn't it wonderful how God uses the simple to confound the wise? This is a wonderful article on worship -- may you win the next one!
Dee Yoder
10/21/07
Boy, have you touched a nerve, and my heart, with this entry! So creative and real. Congratulations on your Highly Commended-it's well deserved.
Alisa Wagner
10/22/07
Fantastic story and devotional. I was hooked right away. I loved the intermingling of so many voices and thoughts. You illustrated the inner thoughts of a mother beautifully! The ending was wonderful . . . I had tears!
Jacquelyn Horne
03/03/08
A little child shall lead them. Good job.