Sunday night church was always less formal and more relaxed.   The dress was casual, and the services usually had a lighter feel to them.  I most often did music in the morning service, so this was a nice change.  I had to do a quick rehearsal before the service started, so Kelsey and I arrived early.

Kelsey was my quiet child.  She was my go with the flow, shy, little blond angel.  She was one of those children that would hide behind her Mommy’s legs when someone, almost anyone, said hello to her.  She was precious.  In fact, when she went to kindergarten, her teacher was so in love with her it made me a little nervous.  Most of all, she was a Mommy’s girl. 

My girls heard me rehearse at home, so they usually knew the songs as well, or perhaps better than I did.  Kelsey liked to sit in the front pew and watch when I did my soundcheck before the service started.  She would sit quietly swinging her little legs, sometimes with a hymnal on her lap.  She might pull out a coloring book and crayons from her backpack and color away while softly singing along to the music as I rehearsed.

The mood at church that evening was light and fun.    The Praise Team and Pastor had come in and were chatting in back as I got ready for a quick run-through of my song.  Kelsey looked up at me and said, “Mommy, can I do your mike check for you?”  “Oh my gosh!”  I thought. It was the cutest thing ever. My little shadow wanted to be like her mom.  “Yes, Of course. Come on up here, Sweetie,” I told her. I was surprised and absolutely excited she was going to be brave enough to come and stand beside me.  “What should I sing?” she said.  “Oh honey, sing whatever you like,” I said.

Mommy mistake number one.    

At this point, the conversations at the back of the church had stopped.  The pastor had a smile on his face that filled the entire church, and the members of the praise team were all anxiously awaiting the sound of this precious child’s voice.  Everyone knew Kelsey was painfully shy. Kelsey slowly took the microphone from my hand, put it up to her mouth, and busted out a perfect five-year-old rendition of Longneck Bottle by Garth Brooks.  She sang it beautifully I might add.  Yes, right there in front of the pastor and the heavenly praise team.   I’m willing to bet no one before had sung that song in the sanctuary. No one could have guessed her song of choice. 

Mommy mistake number two.

“Kelsey, what are you doing?” I said. She had no idea why I reacted that way.  I suppose I was more worried at that moment about what my Christian friends would think about my child singing a song about a beer bottle than I was about crushing my child’s spirit.   By now, the pastor was laughing, the sound guy was laughing, and of course, the praise team was laughing.  I was so embarrassed. 

Kelsey started to cry.  She gently set the mike down on the ground and ran back to her seat in the front row, burying her face in her hands.   I cannot tell you how bad I felt for her.  She had done nothing wrong. In fact, she had done everything right, and her singing was beautiful.   The one who blew it was me, her Mom. I should have given her more direction.

I went down and sat next to my daughter. It was hard for me to explain to Kelsey why they were laughing. I explained they were not laughing at her, but they were actually laughing at me and my reaction to her song choice.  I told her It was my fault. I had told her to sing anything she wanted, and that was precisely what she did.  I then asked her if she knew what a longneck bottle was.  Of course, she did not.    After we talked about it, she understood why it was so funny.  I again told her it was my fault and how sorry I was that her feelings got hurt.   My daughter, with tears still streaming down her face, looked up at me, smiled, and forgave me.  I am so lucky.

Wishing you joy and peace,

Lorrie

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37