How I Get My Family to Church On Time & Looking Perfect

Every Sunday morning, church going families throughout the land load happy, well-dressed, polite children into their cars and head off to their favorite place of worship.  The ride is peaceful as each person in the family prepares their hearts to receive the message.  

They arrive at least 10 minutes early, greet everyone cheerfully, and watch with pride as their whole family sits still and pays perfect attention throughout the entire service.  Finally, they greet people warmly on their way out the door as they head off to a delicious lunch (that mom had plenty of time to prepare beforehand). No one spills anything on their clothes or argues.  Everyone went to bed at a decent hour the night before so no one is the least bit cranky. Their Facebook feed is filled with perfectly edited shots of the whole family in coordinating Sunday wear and everything is picture perfect.  

I have absolutely no idea who these people are, but I’m sure they exist somewhere.  If it’s you, God Bless. Our Sunday mornings look a little.... different.  

So how do I get my family to church on time and looking perfect?  Simple, I don't. NOT EVEN CLOSE. Our Sunday mornings involve pulling sleepy teenagers out of bed and threatening cell phone privileges if they don’t get themselves together and in the car.  It’s performing what would seem to onlookers like an exorcism to get my daughter’s hair looking like she wasn’t attacked by a flock of birds. It’s not having time to cook a “decent” breakfast and telling the kids they can have a  bowl of cereal and donuts from the welcome desk in the church lobby later. Someone, or everyone, has spilled something on their clothes or stepped in something questionable between home and the parking lot.

Our drive to church includes me turning up the radio to drown out the “aggressive fellowship” taking place between the children as they hash out who is in the other’s space and who is breathing each other’s air.  Good times y'all.  

Here's a quick look at my favorite ride home from church.  Peace. Glorious Peace.

Our Sunday mornings usually mean rushing into the late service halfway through the first worship song hoping no one will notice. Then, it’s asking Jesus to meet me there in the middle of my hot mess, settling my heart into peace, instruction, and worship.    He never fails me. 

That’s the point.  That’s what makes it worth it.  That’s why I will continue to drag my kids out of bed and through the doors week after week.  The renewal I receive, the spiritual boost I need to live my best life as a Christian is worth every moment of “mess” it takes to get there.  

Sister, please don't think for one second think you need to have it all together to worship.  Most of us are right there with you in that same messy boat.  

So, if your Sunday mornings look anything like mine, keep going.  Keep showing up...even if it’s a few minutes late, even if your kids (or likely yourself) aren’t perfectly put together. 

​I promise you, Jesus doesn’t care nearly as much about how you or your family look as He does the condition of your hearts and your proximity to His presence.  He doesn’t need you to be Pinterest worthy. He just needs you to show up. And every once in a great while, miracles happen and we manage to get ourselves together enough for a picture...OK, I can't find one of us all together at church at the moment so here's one from three years ago.  Lord, thank you for Your Grace.