Enriched experience

Baby in church

On Good Friday, we went for morning service at our church, expecting to be ministered to and to worship God on this special occasion. But it was far from our expectations. As Ruthie grows, she is becoming more curious about the world around her, at times soo curious that she forgets her hungry and sleepiness, becoming grouchy there after. Usually during the worship portion of service, we would put her to sleep so that she won't cry and disrupt the service. On Good Friday, she didn't fall asleep during worship, got irritated and started crying. Probably the lighting at the area that we were sitting at was too glaring. Or probably she knew it was a different church( G2) from our usual one ( G1) and that kept curious george awake.
Ever since we had Ruthie naturally we had to sit at the cry corner during the service. Initally, I was wondering how parents can really listen and absorb the preaching or experience God's presence during the service with a child next to them, who can be totally unpredictable. You see parents walking in and out of the service maybe because the kid is crying or he needs to nurse or needs a diaper change etc. It was definitely difficult to experience God like before since we had Ruthie. But it's not impossible to put aside the fear of her unpredictablity and her as a distraction and just to worship God. Needs some adjustment.
Any way, during the Good Friday service we ended up outside the sanctuary for most of the preaching and met our cell member with her kid outside as well. And we ended up conversing until Ruthie slept. At the end of the service while waiting for the crowd to disperse, we met with Senior Pastor and his wife who were on their way out and of course started talking about baby. He commented that when 2 people get together in a marriage it takes some adjustment but when you have a kid it changes your entire life. But it also enriches it so much more. And of course we totally agree.
Ruthie has taught as so much about patience, about sacrifice and how to love admist frustration, how to put yourself and your needs at the back of the line and just care and love another being. In marriage you get some of that but the difference is your spouse can reciprocate that.So it is not so tiring or frustrating. And of course there's verbal communication which makes things so much easier. For a baby this age, all they care about is whether their own practical needs are met. Ruthie has also taught us selflessness in our marriage. The need to support and love our spouse more, to work as a team instead of bickering over minor issues which we might have when we were childless. With lesser with one another, we also learn to cherish whatever time we have with one another. And of course a strong martial system is the back bone of the family.
We love children that's why we decided to conceive after one year of marriage but we never realise it would be the most trying experience of our lives. But after 3 months, we are much more adjusted and enjoying experiences with baby more and learning from trying ones. If not we would have left her in a basket and let it float down down Singapore river :P.
-Mommy