Hayden made his First Communion on Sunday and has been asking to go to mass. Everyday. Monday’s conversation, “Mom, is there church everyday?”
“Yes, Hayden. Mass is said every single day.”
“Can we go? Can we go today?”
Checking the clock and realizing we still could make it to noon mass, “Sure Hayden. I’ll take you.”
He spent the rest of the morning watching his watch and then proceeded to wait out in the car for 20 minutes before it was time to go. Once there, I had to take Wyatt into his classroom and Hayden wanted to wait for me in the church. I stayed a couple extra minutes chatting with Wyatt’s teacher before I ventured over to the church for mass. I found Hayden by himself in a pew very near the front. Fr had already started and Hayden was intently following along in his new mass book (a simple little book that has the order of the mass for kids to follow along). I slid in and Hayden smiled at me and offered to share his book. As mass went on he followed along anxiously. “I think I’m getting the hang of this, Mom.” I chuckled. Then came the Consecration. “This is the most important part, Mom.” Yes, my dear boy, it certainly is. He closed his book, bowed his head, closed his eyes and prayed as only a child could. Is it selfish of me to hope that he was praying for us (his family)? This sweet, innocent, and favored boy. I hope he was praying for us.
After mass we were walking out and Hayden looks at his watch, “Mom, it was only 30 minutes!”
“Yes, Hayden. Daily mass is shorter because there is one less reading, usually no music, and only a handful of people go.”
“More people should go, Mom.”
“Yes, I know.”
He was so content. And so was I. Later that night when I tucked him in I leaned over to kiss him goodnight, “Mom, can we go to mass again tomorrow?”
John was off on Monday but has worked Tuesday through Thursday. The thought of taking all 5 kids to mass all by myself is daunting. Especially Rita and Penelope. But Hayden has asked to go every day this week. I was going to attempt to take them all today (Thursday) but Hayden was sick this morning. Tomorrow. John is off tomorrow and Hayden and I can wake up early for 7:30am mass.
My 8 year old son is prompting me…leading me to a deeper relationship with Christ. Both incredibly beautiful and incredibly humbling.
Preserving Love 