At the River

It's a Sunday morning in June and I've assigned my eight year old son the task of finding the opening hymn before worship begins. We do this every week. We go through these tasks like clock work. The boys know the routine. Look up the hymn numbers, hold the offering envelope, bow their heads, pass the offering plate, stand, sit, and so on; a whole choreographed twenty minutes before "Children's Church!"

I ask them to find the page numbers, hold the hymnal, and look up the Scripture passage. I whisper to them when to stand, sit, and bow their heads. I ask my boys to do all these tasks, but I can't make them pray the prayers. I can't make them sing the songs. I can't make them worship. I think about that sometimes.

We hear the music play. We rise and Ben catches my ear on the way up and says, "There aren't any turtles, fish or frogs in it." After a long second of attempting to fit his comment into the context of the moment, I realize Ben had read the lyrics to the hymn we were about to sing, "Shall We Gather at the River?" He was commenting on the lack of wildlife described in the text, since anytime he goes to the river with his dad and brother they discover all sorts of creatures. "You're right," was all I managed to say before the hundred voices drowned out my whisper.

I sang with a smile on my face and a giggle in my heart imagining all the shining, crystal, brightness of the Heavenly River with the Saints, turtles, fish and frogs! As we sat back down into the pew I took the next forty-five second pause in the worship service as a "teachable moment" to summarize the lyrics, point to the baptistry and relate it all to New Life in Christ. Sometimes, I work really hard at my Christian parenting responsibility!

So that Sunday in June we were singing about the River and reflecting about the water of Baptism, but it was a week later when they gathered at the river, the Broad River, that is. My male trio put on their oldest shoes, packed a lunchbox with juice, snacks, and water and headed to the Broad River Greenway- A glorious spot for creek splashing, mud-slinging, and creature spotting! I had a glorious three hours to myself in our air-conditioned house!

The adventurers returned with matted hair, smelly clothes, dirty arms and legs and tales to tell. Youngest started with "Let me tell first!" With energy and enthusiasm, he shared what they had seen, dug up, chased, and touched which included crayfish, salamanders, dragonflies, frogs, fish, and turtles! After his tale, big brother gave more details about their discoveries. Dan and I listened and I just captured it all on the "Mommy Memory."

As I was basking in the moment of familial bliss, Dan said, "What else did we find at the river?"

Well, the boys thought and reviewed the list: "two frogs, one salamander, one turtle we touched, several turtles on the rocks, and one snake eating a fish!" Ben and Brian agreed they had accounted for everything.

And Dan asked again, "What else did we find at the river?" No one answered, so Dan did, "Grace." And Dan continued, "Remember, Brian, you saw Grace at the river."

"Oh, that's right, she called to me and walked towards me." Brian replied. Although my heart was beating fast, it wasn't my heart that quickened during this conversation. God was in this living room with my sweaty husband and dirty children!

It was Grace at the river. It was the same Grace that filled my lap to overflowing at a birthday party in December. It was Grace who recognized my child and called out his name. Grace found them at the River!

"Yes, we'll gather at the river, (with the frog and fish and turtle); Gather with the Saints at the river; That flows by the throne of God!"

Remembering, writing, and sharing those June days on this blank space and not seeing your face, seems, oh, so strange. But we know each other by His Name, His Call, His Presence, and His Place and my heart is glad. I am thankful for this opportunity to write and offer this. For several years I have read Ann's blog and wondered how or when to begin. Perhaps this is the time to share, to write, to speak. ~ M.L.E.