Don't Snark at My Kid, Mr. Knight of Columbus!

Venting.  

At Mass on Sunday, our church looked SPLENDID with all the red and gold finery.  When we Exalt the Holy Cross, you'd better believe we know how to do it!  

Anyway, I picked up Vincent so he could see the procession and various trimmings adoring the altar and sanctuary.  I explained why our pastor was in red and gold, and I whispered how special this Sunday was because of the Feast it celebrated.  

He clung to me in rapt attention, clearly enjoying the brilliant splashes of color.  However, as I was explaining this, Mr. Knight of Columbus whispered (not so quietly) to his wife:  "You'd think he'd know that by now."

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I'm not the type of person to let comments like that roll, but it was the very beginning of Mass (the Processional) and I didn't want to make a scene before Father got to the sanctuary.  Plus, people ALWAYS assume Vince is older than he is because he's taller than most 7 year olds.  

Argh.

So I bit my tongue and stifled the urge to give the man whiplash.

I continued explaining things - as I do - to Vince throughout Mass.  He's at the point, however, that he's really starting to "get" certain things - chief among these is the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  When our pastor raised the Host during Consecration, Vincent always says "I love you, Jesus!" as I've taught him to do.  

This time, he said it a little too zealously and the man audibly huffed as if my son's adoration was somehow disturbing or shameful.  

Again... bit my tongue.

Finally, Vince had to use the potty right after Consecration.  I asked him if he could hold it until after Communion, but he couldn't, so we started leaving the pew.  Knight Perfection huffed again.  

I gave him a death stare as we left the pew.

When we got back, folks were already lining up for Communion.  Vince, as he always does, genuflected with me before I received.  When we got back into the pew, he kissed me on the lips (as he always does) so he could "kiss Jesus."  I was proud of him, and I wanted that guy to see why.  Sure he doesn't know what the liturgical colors are all about, and maybe he doesn't know the responses yet, and yeah, okay... the kid's got a bladder smaller than a dixie cup, but ya know what?  His heart is as big and beautiful as the Milky Way Galaxy, and all he wants to do is have Jesus come live in it.  

SO BACK OFF MR. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DUDE.  

Ugh.  

As I was venting about this today, my buddy said I should've said something to him.  Again, normally I would, but I didn't think it'd do much good.  He was a crotchety older guy who obviously didn't have a soft spot in his body for children.  Such misery doesn't tend to find sunshine in July let alone a lesson in a mother's scold.  

But now that I've vented, I feel somewhat better.  I just hope I never have the displeasure of sitting in front of him again.  Yick.

Prayers for him and all those who would treat children with such disdain.  The Kingdom of God belongs to them, too.  

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