“Let (ALL) the children come to me…”

“My name is Declan.  I am six years old.”

Declan stood before us, facing his Sunday School teacher in his new classroom.

“Hello, Declan!”  replied the teacher.

With his serious look, Declan continued, “I am six years old.  Five plus one is six.  I am six years old.”

Declan was welcomed in the classroom and shown to a chair to color.  Having called ahead and discussed Declan with the teacher and any needs he may require, my husband and I signed him in to the classroom and left.

“Goodbye, Declan,” I called, “See you in one hour.”

Declan looked up from the sheet he was coloring.

“Okay.  Goodbye.”

Having already located the classrooms for Bobby and Catelyn, my husband and I rushed through the church and located where the service was to be held.  We found empty chairs and settled into our seats.

“Oh my gosh, guess what?” My husband whispered.

“What?”

“This is our first time without kids since…. well, I don’t remember when!”

“I guess it’s a date,” I said with a smile and added, “a quiet one.”

My husband smiled, and the music began.

We were at our first church outing in years.  Well, in the past few years we were that family that visited a church for holidays only.  We were that family that sat in the back row, trying our best to go unnoticed.  My husband and I would rotate taking Declan into the halls to walk around.

Now it was just the two of us, and the service began to unfold.  Announcements were made, songs were sung, scripture read.  And as the service was dedicated to the 15^th anniversary of the church’s preschool, the teacher spoke.

She showed this picture and said the following:

“I love this picture.  It is a picture of Jesus with the children.  What is not pictured are the parents that put their children there.  Parents that felt it was important for their children to have a relationship with Jesus.  Also not pictured, is the community surrounding these parents.  The community that supported the parents and helped the parents to connect their children with Christ.”

As she said these words, I thought about how relevant these words were to our life.

I was raised a Christian.  I went to church, Sunday School.  I went to Vacation Bible schools.  I went to Catholic school.  There was never a time in my life that Jesus was not a part of.

I realize as a parent, that my parents surrounded me with Christ.  My Christianity was ingrained in me.  I have never doubted Christ.

When I left my parents’ home and became an adult, I realized how important my faith was to me.  As I faced adult issues and problems I could fall back on my faith.  I could read the bible, say a prayer – and even if I was REALLY MAD at Jesus, I knew that he was still with me and loved me.  I am never alone.

When I had kids, I wanted the same thing for them.  I wanted them to have the same comfort in their faith that I had found.  So, when times were tough, they always knew they were never alone.

I took them to church.  I put them in Sunday School.  The only preschool I was able to pick was that for Catelyn, and I put her into a Christian preschool.  I wanted Jesus to surround my kids.

Three years ago, the church we attended, the church we volunteered at – the church we were MEMBERS at – closed its doors to our family.  We were told they could not care for Declan, even with a one on one aid.  He was too fast.  And he hurt another child.  They no longer had teachers for a special needs room.  They could not accommodate him.  We were welcome to go to their church, we just were not welcome to bring Declan.

I don’t need to tell you how much that hurt.

I wanted Declan, my son with autism, to have a relationship with Jesus, just like my other kids.  Jesus didn’t say he only wanted a relationship with the neurotypical children – he wants a relationship with ALL the children.

I knew how hard it was to watch Declan.  Believe me I knew.  I knew how fast he was.  I just thought church would be different.  I thought they could help make it work for our family.

THAT church couldn’t.  And it took three years for us to try again.

We did have friends and family during this time that recommended churches.  Churches that were willing and able to work with Declan.  I guess my husband and I just weren’t ready to face the possibility of that kind of rejection and hurt again.

Until Sunday.  Another friend of my husbands recommended their church to us.  Knowing our story, his wife called ahead to ensure that Declan could be supported.  And our family walked the threshold of another church and were welcomed.  ALL FIVE OF US.

I am thankful for my husband’s friend and his wife for helping us attend their church.  They are a part of that community that the teacher spoke of.  The community that supports parents in helping their children have a relationship with Jesus.  ALL of the children.

The kids enjoyed their Sunday School classes.  My husband and I enjoyed the service.  And I am thankful for the support from others to help me provide Jesus and His messages to my children again.