You really don’t realize how important it is to attend church every Sunday until you have to miss one or two or even more than that. I recently had my third child, and despite my church responsibilities, I took a few weeks off from church before returning.
The thing about missing church is that you don’t really realize the difference attending every week makes in your life until you go back. This is one reason why I feel that it really is easy to go inactive and stay that way. You don’t think church makes a difference in your life because you get used to not feeling the spirit. You get used to not feeling that sense of family with other ward members, and not having any plans to get you out of bed on a Sunday.
I’ll be the first to admit that there have been many times when I wished that I didn’t have to attend my meetings. With as busy as life is these days, it would be nice to have two weekend days to shop, and do household chores, and hang out at the park on a bright sunny day. But, instead, we make the decision to attend church every week.
I didn’t realize until after I went back to church after having my baby how much easier everything else in my life seemed. I realized it one evening when my husband and I were sitting at the dining room table while one kid threw a tantrum about something they didn’t want to eat, the baby had just spit up on someone, and the third child had just smeared food all over his clothes, albeit unintentionally. We looked at each other across the dining room table and just started laughing at our chaotic lives where we are now out numbered by our children. I realized in that moment that the reason why I could laugh instead of cry was because I had been spiritually uplifted at church that day and I didn’t want anything to take away from that happy spirit we had.
So, maybe you just might see me on a Friday evening, in a similar situation like I described above, where it has been several days since I attended church and think, “Man is SHE in a bad mood!” And, I just might be. But, I know that attending church each week is partly for that reason alone. To give me perspective. To put me in a better mood and to help me make it through the week.
When I hear those that say they don’t need church every week to feel God, I think first off, “Good for them!” But, I can’t help but wonder how much they are actually feeling Him. Maybe they are, and I’m not one to judge; but for me? I need it every week.
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