My daughter as Mary once we got home Wednesday night.
Well, I guess if anyone could top last year’s Christmas Eve rendition of “Where is baby Jesus?” during the entire service, it would be my daughter. (Writer’s note: My son probably would have been just as entertaining except he had a cold.)
So Wednesday evening we went the 4 p.m. service with my husband, his sister and her family, and my in-laws.
I knew I was in trouble when, upon sitting in the pew, I told my nearly 4-year-old daughter, “Now, you need to be good. Santa is still watching.”
“When’s he gonna leave?” she replied.
My daughter loves to sing. And since she attends a church daycare, she’s familiar with all the Christmas songs.
So when the children’s choir started the holiday pageant and one little girl was giving a solo of “Away in the Manger,” it turned into a duet loud enough a few of us to hear. Prayers were just as fun. We got on our knees and started her “God blesses,” as in “God Bless mommy. God Bless daddy. God bless brother. God bless cousins.”
After saying “Amen,” she said loudly, “Oh I forgot! What’s my teacher’s name?” And the blessings of teachers, friends and the family dog began anew.
At this point, with me just about jumping out of my seat, my husband smiles and says, “It’s OK. She’s worshipping in her own way.”
I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to interrupt anyone. But no one was complaining.
Then when the only voice to be heard in the church was the priest preparing for Communion and my daughter yelled, “I need a drink!” it was time to get out of the big building for awhile.
I should have stayed put.
We filled her cup in the back foyer and she noticed the doors open to the outside. I don’t know how it happened. I swear I didn’t take my eyes off of her.
But she ended up face front into the small water fountain. Drenched from neck to waist (she managed not to get her hair wet), she said, “Mommy my dress is wet.”
Yea, no kidding.
I dried her off with towels and we went back into the big church for the last blessing.
“Amen” I said when it was done.
Hi Michelle,
My daughter wore the same pajamas on Christmas morning! We also sing along in inappropriate locations — such as the grocery store or elevators. What makes it interesting is the words she uses in place of the lyrics. One was “Oh Merry Christmas, Oh Merry Christmas, Oh Merry Christmas” because she couldn’t remember the other words (she sung herself to sleep with this one the week before the holidays). We also make up lyrics for chores and other activities, such as “It’s time to brush our teeth” to the tune of Hi, Ho, the Derry-O.