There is nothing like your child’s answers during a Children’s Sermon to hone in on your growth areas.

Case in point: New Covenant Family Service December 2010.

Kids gather in the front to hear a meaningful homily. Children’s speaker Anthony asks the kids “what’s the first word that you think of when you think of your parents?” Darling Street child says “computer” without flinching. Congregation laughs. Inside I am scrambling.

Did he say that because his Dad helps lead the international virtual ministry for our organization and often works from home?

Did he say that because our home flooded and I am frequently working on the computer trying to find contractors and order materials?

Did he say that because I am researching medical things for our sick son and often sitting at the computer desk scrambling for information?

Or…

Did he say that because he is experiencing us as distracted and unavailable to his emotional needs?

Has he experienced me as overwhelmed? I have been overwhelmed. He’s onto me.

Should I bag this blog and close my Facebook account?

Or the best solution…Should we ban all technology from our home and move to a farm ASAP?

Or all of the above?

I felt so exposed. I felt scared. I felt like a horrible mom.

Thankfully, after initially panicking, I asked Jesus to use this one word to show me the truth, to not try to hide or defend or to clamor.

Later I asked Joseph what he meant by what he said. I asked him what he thought Anthony meant by his question. He told me that Anthony asked what our jobs were. Whew! That was definitely a different question than what was asked. But it was too late. God’s good work had already begun. He was honing in on a much-needed growth area for me and for my husband.

We’ve been much more conscientious about what our time on the computer looks like. We’ve set boundaries with ourselves and with each other. Most importantly, we’re keeping the conversation going with the Lord, ourselves, each other and trusted friends.

I finished the day that Sunday evening by asking Joseph “how does mom show love to you?” He answered several beautiful things that made me think that although not perfect, maybe I wasn’t such a horrible mom after all.

But thanks to one word in a Children’s Sermon, how we live out our our priorities is being refined.

I hope we are brave enough for it to last a lifetime.