Easter Sunday

My mother grew up only going to church twice a year- Christmas and Easter. Since my parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, my parents attend church every week, religiously, so to speak. They are so dedicated, that my Dad even gave up watching sports on Sunday and doing anything else that might disrupt the reverence of the Sabbath Day. Today I got up early myself and attended Church. I have never seen our chapel so full. I have also never seen half the people that filled it. 

At first, the idea of people only attending Church for the religious holiday kind of bothered me. My first thoughts were, why bother? You don't come any other time of the year, so why do you think coming on these two days out of all the other Sundays will save you in the end? As I scanned the congregation, I could almost easily pick out the individuals and families that weren't part of the regular crowd. Not just because I didn't recognize them, but because they weren't dressed in the normal church-attending attire. Some of them were in jeans, button-down shirts without ties, and white socks with their leather shoes. 

Then I realized something...I was judging them...and people like me are probably the reason why lots of them don't usually come to Church. I'm sure they could see my wandering eyes and could assume the thoughts of criticism going through my head. How dare I. Who am I to make that assessment? What I should have been thinking was how great it is they they decided to celebrate the Rescurrection of Christ by going to Church. I should have walked up to them and introduced myself to make them feel welcome. Instead, I sat in the corner with my husband and baby, keeping my thoughts and words of encouragement to myself. I have always been more shy than I am outgoing, but what good is that going to do in this world? 

We hear about so many people deciding not to come to Church and grow spiritually because they've been "offended"  or felt "unwelcome" there. For a long time, I've not thought much of it besides that is their issue and if they wanted to talk to me, I would always be friendly. But thinking today, I wonder how many people in my time have I created issues for?