Stop Singing Mummy!

You often end up running a mid-week ministry to pre-schoolers and their families with your own children in tow. I certainly have! There have been many challenges. On more than one occasion as I tried to sing and lead an It's Music Time class, my then 2 year old was yelling, "Stop singing Mummy!" (The class is mainly unaccompanied singing.) We even resorted to putting that child into occasional care so that I could run the class without traumatising us both!

On another, even more memorable occasion, I was running a class with 3 of my children, aged at the time 4, 2, and newborn. The 2 year old (not the same one as before) had an incredible tantrum - yelling, screaming and generally carrying on. I tried everything to make him stop - hugs, rebuking, the list could go on. I tried it all. Nothing worked. In the end I had to leave the class with 10 minutes left to go, carrying my screaming child under my arm, pushing a stroller and pulling along a 4 year old. 

We all have those challenges with ministry to preschoolers. The moment when they don't want to be there, but you've made a commitment. It's worth thinking about your ministry not only being delivering a service, but sharing your life. As you struggle with your little ones people can see that being Christian isn't a cure all to the daily challenges of parenting. You face difficulties too, but you believe the ministry is a bigger priority than someone having a bad day.

Of course, don't hear me saying that if you have ongoing issues with your child you need to persist to their detriment. But be faithful and share the word and your life. Hopefully the people you are ministering to will see grace and patience in action as you parent.