Took My Daughter to Church for the First Time

She said, “I thought God’s blood would taste better.”

This past Sunday, my daughter and I zipped up our rain jackets and walked the four blocks to the United Methodist Church near our apartment. I’ve wanted to take my daughter to church for a while, but my wife disapproves of church (in general) and usually plans family outings or housecleaning or headaches on Sunday.

However! This Sunday, we went together, my daughter and I, prompted in part, because Grandma wanted to take my daughter to Grandma’s church, but my daughter said she wanted to go to church with me first, before she went with anyone else.¹²³⁴

Walking over, my daughter expressed nervousness. I told her I hoped she would enjoy singing and praying with a big group of strangers. And she did! Her initial nervousness gave way to enthusiastic stories about all she did at Cherub Choir - the kid-focused activity she went to after the pastor’s message to the children (after the opening songs and greetings and call and response readings).

Walking to church, I said, “don’t let an adult take you anyplace alone.” “Why?” she asked.” “Safety,” I said. Walking home, she asked, “Can we go next week? Can we bring the brothers?” “Why?” I asked. “It’s very safe,” she said. “There’s so many kids! And also? God is good! Do you know the song, God is good?”

It’s a nice church, but like how I praise our neighborhood because there are two playgrounds within walking distance, my judgment is steered by kid considerations. In the pews, there were crayons and paper for her to doodle during the songs and prayers before the children’s activity. Mini play-dough containers to open and squeeze. Yeah, she didn’t like the pita bread dipped in grape juice during Communion, but she spun and waved her arms during the singing of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”

If we’re not traveling or housecleaning or coffee-running, I think we’ll go back next week. :)

1. Not sure when it started, but every night, my daughter sings her prayers before bed. Yes. Sings. It’s beautiful. She sings/prays that the virus will go away and that she can high-five everyone and that she won’t have bad dreams. Sometimes, she adds that me and mom and her brothers won’t have bad dreams either. Grandma says it wasn’t her that taught her to pray by singing. I know it wasn’t me. But I hope it’ll never end.

2. The sweetest prayer my daughter ever prayed? She once told God the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

3. Her most theologically suspect belief? She thinks when we die, we become stars.

4. Her most theologically orthodox belief? “Rejoice always.” She’s a good kid.