The Beauty of Adoration

​"How do I draw Jesus?" my 5 year old asked me tonight at adoration. This is the second time in a row I've had to take all of our kids with me to adoration by myself recently, and I honestly wasn't looking forward to it. I've been selfish with the last several months of adoration, and prefer to go by myself. (Mostly because I am a crier when it is just me and our Lord, and I enjoy that intimacy. A prayerful quiet I don't get when I bring the kids.) I struggle enough going to daily Mass solo with kids that I've always thought that adoration solo would be 10 times worse because, well, SILENCE!!

So, today, when my eldest girl asked how to draw Jesus, I surprised myself when I said "Would you like to take your notebook and pencils and sit up on the floor right in front of Him?" Her eyes got wide and she excitedly genuflected as fast as she respectfully could and spent the next 30 minutes drawing pictures of Jesus on the cross. IN SILENCE!

Normally, we sit down, they try to color, and I read my Bible while shushing my youngest two what feels like every 30 seconds while the kids inevitably decide to bicker. Today, I broke the rules, let the girls get out of the pew, and create some beautiful art. (And, yes, I'm sorry, broke the "no phones" rule during church and brought it out of my bag long enough to take a picture.) Jesus really humbled me today by showing me that adoration with kids CAN be beautiful. I know it won't be perfect every time (because GOODNESS we have had some doozies over the last year!), but I will graciously accept the happy tears I cried tonight while watching something beautiful blossom in my daughter's heart.

Take this as your gentle nudge to not be afraid to take your kids to adoration, and maybe prepare to watch something wonderful unfold. ❤️