Pointing to Daddy
Easter weekend.
I’m sitting in church in front of a family with 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters. During the praise and worship time, the mother sits with the girls as her husband walks inconspicuously down a side isle and onto the platform to play his trumpet for one song. He sits in the shadows, off to one side, waiting for his part.
Suddenly, his youngest daughter spots him.
“Da-Da!” she announces gleefully, in the volume that children reserve for the quietest church moments.
“Shhhh,” hushes her mother.
“DA-Da!” the child insists, this time pointing directly at her father, certain that her mother doesn’t realize what an important person she’d spotted.
“Yes, I know,” whispers the mother, “I see Daddy, too. We need to be quiet right now.”
But the little girl will have none of it.
“DA-DA!” she demands.
As if her mother needs a clear demonstration of how to correctly respond to this wonderful man, the tiny tyke begins to wave both hands wildly and call out, “Hi DA-Da! Hi DA-Da! HI DA-Da!” in a voice that overshadows the music: guitars, keyboard, drums, and all.
Still trying valiantly (albiet ineffectively) to hush her child, the mother collects their belongings and heads out the back door of the church to the sound-proof mother’s room.
I’m sure many are relieved that the distraction is gone and worship can continue uninterrupted.
But I am struck by how appropriate the so-called distraction is, this weekend of all weekends.
This child pointed us all to her father, trying to help us see him as the most important part of our worship.
Another Child points us all to His Father, trying to help us see Him as the only One worthy of our worship.
“DA-DA!” isn’t a distraction. It’s a reminder.
Jesus points us to His Father. His Abba. His Daddy.
Because He’s the point of our worship.
Oh YES and shouldn’t we all be pointing to Him? I love that picture of the little one pointing to Daddy. That’s us.
Amen to that!
Oh so beautiful!!
Visiting from WLW. 🙂
Oh what a cute reminder. My kids have done the exact same thing before my husband preaches.
I just found you through Time Warp Wife and I’d love it if you’d stop by and link an encouraging post to my blog. http://www.lessonsfromivy.com/2012/04/being-content-in-mothering.html
Well said! I too would have seen this as a distraction- a lot of people would have. Most times we don’t have the hindsight (after the fact, of course!) to even recognize that that was a teachable moment. 🙂
Thank you- and great post!