Religion 101
About a month ago, my son asked me what was the name of "that place" that we went to on (some) weekends. After much prodding, I realized that he was talking about the church where we hear mass (or at least try to since our attendance has been rather inconsistent of late). I told him that it was the "church" and proceeded on giving him the name of our parish. When asked why the subject came up so suddenly, he simply replied, "I like going there."
Somehow his reply struck a chord within me. My hubby and I have been so busy with work, errands and shuttling the kids to and from their activities that sometimes it seems like a big pain to attend mass on Sundays. Yet, here's my four-year old boy stating that he likes going to mass and looks forward to going to church. When further asked why he likes going to church, he just says that he just likes to go there. Before you picture some angelic little boy sitting quietly through mass, please allow me to banish such a beautiful thought from your head. My hubby and I spend a chunk of time during mass alternately shushing AJ and keeping AT occupied so as not to wander around the church as she is wont to do. Yet, even in this, AJ still likes the church.
So taking this to heart, we make more of an effort to go and hear mass every Sunday (or else we catch the vigil on Saturdays). In doing so, I feel that I am renewing my own faith. I have added a new dimension to it. I am beginning to see and hear the mass through my children's senses.
Now, I don't want to gush on and on about my personal faith. I'm just trying to say that I'm now feeling the weight and responsibility of introducing God and religion to my children. How can I best let them know about my faith when I myself am a very far example of an exemplary Christian? Maybe this is another one of those situations where I have to shape up for my children. Unlike my and my hubby's childhood in Catholic schools (where we were, at worst, brainwashed into the Faith), my children will most likely enter the public school system. A system that, in its quest for secularization, seems to shun away everything that touches any semblance of religion. It is a mighty challenge, and one that I'm not yet prepared to take. Maybe those Sunday masses will help center me and strenghthen my core as I take on another parental task of letting my children get to know God.
God help me.
Somehow his reply struck a chord within me. My hubby and I have been so busy with work, errands and shuttling the kids to and from their activities that sometimes it seems like a big pain to attend mass on Sundays. Yet, here's my four-year old boy stating that he likes going to mass and looks forward to going to church. When further asked why he likes going to church, he just says that he just likes to go there. Before you picture some angelic little boy sitting quietly through mass, please allow me to banish such a beautiful thought from your head. My hubby and I spend a chunk of time during mass alternately shushing AJ and keeping AT occupied so as not to wander around the church as she is wont to do. Yet, even in this, AJ still likes the church.
So taking this to heart, we make more of an effort to go and hear mass every Sunday (or else we catch the vigil on Saturdays). In doing so, I feel that I am renewing my own faith. I have added a new dimension to it. I am beginning to see and hear the mass through my children's senses.
Now, I don't want to gush on and on about my personal faith. I'm just trying to say that I'm now feeling the weight and responsibility of introducing God and religion to my children. How can I best let them know about my faith when I myself am a very far example of an exemplary Christian? Maybe this is another one of those situations where I have to shape up for my children. Unlike my and my hubby's childhood in Catholic schools (where we were, at worst, brainwashed into the Faith), my children will most likely enter the public school system. A system that, in its quest for secularization, seems to shun away everything that touches any semblance of religion. It is a mighty challenge, and one that I'm not yet prepared to take. Maybe those Sunday masses will help center me and strenghthen my core as I take on another parental task of letting my children get to know God.
God help me.
posted by gal in progress | 7:22 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home