During church service yesterday, our pastor admitted that he and his wife have their worst disagreements on the way to and from church. I had to chuckle to myself as this has often been the case with my husband and myself. And, when our daughters were growing up, the disagreements included them too.

There is the hustle and bustle of getting up Sunday mornings, quickly getting breakfast in everyone’s stomach, and rushing out the door to feel my best for friends and God. And, there is a high expectation from my husband that we cannot be late. By quickly completing our usual Sunday morning ritual, I feel I can cleanse my family and myself of our weekly ugliness. We can put on a smile when we walk in the door at church.  Problem is, unkind words have a way of seeping out of mouths while getting ready to leave the house. This provides the backdrop for irritability and steam spewing from everyone’s ears before we reach the church parking lot.

Tension can provide an open door to disconnecting your heart from God on Sunday morning. Unpleasant thoughts are whirling through your mind about your spouse and your children. Then you sit in your seat, try to calm your spirit, and attempt to absorb the service. There have been Sundays where I find this an impossible feat. I still have enough steam left over for the drive home!

There is something you can try with your spouse and/or your children. By bringing several worship CD’s with you to listen to in the car, it helps alleviate the bickering. Crank up the music and have a sing-a-long to certain songs you know, or sit in silence as a form of prayer. Changing the atmosphere in the car, with praise music, will connect you going to and from Sunday service.

Give it a try this coming Sunday. See if it makes a difference.