If you are anything like me, you have probably been going to church for as long as you can remember. Sunday's were always a special day in your house because it was church day. It didn't matter what your friends were doing or what they had invited you to, you were going to be in church--but that was because you were a church kid.
So, here are some things only a church kid would understand.
1. Your friends learned to stop asking you to hang out on Wednesdays or Sundays.
2. You've slept like this a time or two.
If only we could get away with doing this now. But really, this used to be a common place to for you to get some quality shut eye.
3. You already know what everyone is bringing for those pot luck dinners (and you have your favorites)
And you rushed to try and get at the front of the line so you could snag your favorites before everyone else took them all.
4. All of the elderly people in your church hug you and tell you how much you've grown up...every. single. Sunday.
"Oh you need to stop growing on us!"
*thinks* "but I haven't grown since you told me this last Sunday...."
5. But you secretly love all of the hugs.
You might act grossed out to your friends, but we all know you love all the hugs.
6. You have everyone's seat memorized
Oh where was Sis. Mary today? She wasn't in her normal seat.
7. And on Easter, you always lost your normal seat because there were so many visitors..
A part of you feels a bit out of place because you aren't in your normal seat, but you know that it's okay to give up your seat for visitors.. even though you really like your seat.
8. You also know the layout of your church like the back of your hand.
"Oh just go out this door and take 25 steps and then the first door on the left is the ladies bathroom."
9. You know many kids church songs (i.e.. Fruits of the Spirit, I am a C I am a C-H, or even He's Got The Whole World In His Hands) and they get stuck in your head.
You would learn a new song in kids church and you continued to sing it all day long because it got stuck in your head.
10. Church camp was always the highlight of your summer.
Church camp was always your favorite because it was like a church kid convention. Everyone there seemed to get you and your church kid ways.
11. And youth trips were always a blast because they never went as planned.
It didn't matter where you were going, it was always an adventure. And, most of the time, something went wrong.. from buses breaking down, to Jimmy forgetting his pillow. Nothing ever went as planned.
12. You know sign language to at least a song or two.
Maybe sign language will be used in heaven? I mean a most church kids sign at least one song--ie. "Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord."
13. Snack time in Kids church was always your favorite.
Goldfish and juice boxes were the recipe for a great snack time, but you never could eat just a few goldfish.. so you always managed to spoil your lunch.
14. Crawling under the pews was the best thing ever.
You've seen this sight a time or two. It was like the ultimate army crawling training. Training to be a part of the army of God? haha.
15. And then your mom would try to stop you from crawling under the pew by pulling your leg which ended up giving you some mad carpet burn.
Then you'd get upset, but you wouldn't dare to cry because you knew you were doing something you weren't supposed to be doing in the first place.
16. Your parents have a embarrassing video of you being a part of the Christmas play. (or multiple videos)
We can all hope that our parents somehow lost these awful videos, but you know they have them somewhere.
17. You knew all of the "church answers."
Jesus. God. Bethlehem. The Bible. Pray. Noah.
You know all of the expected answers to the "church questions."
18. A part of your closet was reserved for "church only" clothes.
There were times you'd try to wear a fancy dress to the store, but mom made you take it off because it was a "Sunday Only" dress.
19. You owned a pair of these shoes/socks.
There was definitely a love hate relationship with these things. But no matter how hard you fought it, mom still made you wear them... together.
20. The fam could be fighting all the way to church but as soon as you pulled into the church parking lot everyone straightened up.
And you basically perfected the "fake smile." You walk into church acting like you don't wanna strangle your sister.
21. You know Jesus pick up lines are a thing.
Sometimes used to be funny and sometimes used trying to get a date to the movies. You understand all of the cheesy church pick up lines. This is probably my fave church pick up line. And if you are a church kid, you know this is referring to the song "How He Loves."
22. "Stop running" was a phrase you heard a lot while trying to play tag in the Sanctuary after church.
Running was a big no no in church, but sometimes you pulled a Forrest and kept on running anyway.
23. Your church family is basically one big dysfunctional family.
Church family is family. You wouldn't trade them for the world. There is something about worshipping Jesus together that seems to create lasting bonds that can't be broken.
24. You wouldn't change a thing.
From skipping school athletic events to missing out on sleepovers because you had church the next morning, you wouldn't change a thing. You are so thankful that you found a place you can call home. No matter how far away life takes you from your childhood church, you will always carrying the people and the memories near and dear to your heart.
