Last month, Marty and I were invited to an end-of-the-year children’s concert. Since our kids are grown, and our nieces and nephew live out of state, we don’t spend time with any children.
We were invited by one of our first wholesale customers, who happened to be a Mennonite. We have gotten to know the owners and employees of the shop very well over the last five years. I like delivering and shopping there; everyone is so nice.
Four years ago, the Mennonites asked if they could come to our home to sing us Christmas carols. When they showed up that snowy evening, it was magical.
Many of them we knew from the store with their families, and some we didn’t know. They sang religious carols like angels singing out in the glittery snowfall.
The Mennonites celebrate the true meaning of Christmas without any commercial aspects. There is no Santa Klaus, Frosty, or Rudolf. No songs like, “Grandma got run over by a reindeer.”
Marty was running errands earlier that afternoon, and I asked him to pick up something we could offer the carolers. He picked up Chocolate Santa Klaus’. Needless to say, he was eating chocolate Santa’s until Valentine’s Day. 🤦🏻♀️
We said yes, we would like to go to the concert. We have watched our customer’s children and families grow over the last five years and wanted to hear them sing. It was nice they invited us or even wanted to invite us.
We are probably the last people one would think of “hanging” with Mennonites, but everything aside, we enjoy each other’s company.
A few years ago, we did a couple of spätzle tastings in their store. At first, I thought it would be weird since we are covered with tattoos and piercings. To them, it didn’t matter. They don’t judge us. Only God can.
Once we got used to the hymns playing loudly in the store, it felt like any other store we demoed. We fit in, and it was enjoyable. We all laughed a lot and had fun in the meantime. We got to know each other and realized we all have the same hard work ethic.
Last night, we both dressed up for the concert. I did not wear long sleeves to cover my tattoo sleeves, but it was chilly. Since Marty was careful not to wear a Mennonite signature plaid shirt, we laughed.
He decided on black pants with a navy blue button-down with tiny white polka-dots. It was good he didn’t wear his light blue oxford button-down since that is what all the Mennonite men wore to church instead of plaid shirts.
The people from the store always see us in our yucky production clothes or looking like we were dragged behind a truck, disheveled and tired. One time, I went dressed up to drop off a delivery before going to an event. Suddenly, one of the employees stopped me because they didn’t recognize me in the back room. 🤣
I was a bit nervous about what it would be like at the concert. Marty and I had no idea what to expect from their church, even though I have been to Catholic Churches thousands of times.
When we got there, I saw our customer’s wife and asked her what we do. She told me her husband would show us to our seats. When he saw us, he got the biggest smile and sat us with his family. He made us feel welcome.
When the service began, it was more magical than the Christmas caroling; it was powerful and beautiful. The congregation all sang a hymn that everyone knew the words to. They harmonized, and it seemed everyone had a good singing voice. It was beyond impressive, especially since there was no music, only singing.
After an opening prayer, the children began to sing together, then each of the three “rooms” took turns singing. Again, no music, songs with lots of lyrics and talking parts. There was no clapping. No showing off. No praise or glory; that is left to God, who makes it all happen.
The children were happy, funny, and entertaining while singing about God. Many of the songs were about lessons they have been taught with meanings such as kindness, sharing, love, gratitude, peace, patience, and caring.
As I watched the children sing and their parents watching them, I saw pure bliss and innocence. They don’t watch movies or tv, go on the internet, play video games, or get caught up in social media. They didn’t have any outside distractions, yet they seemed like regular kids.
The love I felt in that church last night is something I won’t forget for a long time. On our way home, Marty told me how much he enjoyed the concert and graduation of two older students, one being our friend’s oldest son.
I envied them for living life so simply and not having so many problems caused by all the distractions I mentioned earlier.
They don’t know about the horrors of social media and aren’t caught up in the hate present in our country and the world. They know essential news, and that’s it. I would be embarrassed if they knew just how disrespectful and mean people are to each other. How terrible the fighting and war going on in the world is.
It was like taking a step back in time where God mattered first, then their families. Yes, like us, they have worries, financial problems, sickness, and death. They have burdens that weigh them down, but they give it all over to God and trust Him and only Him.
It was a beautiful experience. We forgot about the distractions we have in our lives while we were there enjoying the bliss we were surrounded by. What a beautiful life they live. Amen.
Lovely, just…wonderful. Thank you.