Pew Poll Follow-Up

Remember the old saying "Little pitchers have big ears"?

Well, that one came home to me in a big way during worship Sunday morning. We had just finished confessing the Nicene Creed, and the congregation was silently awaiting the start of the prayers when my 3-year-old, whom I was holding, turned to me and announced at full voice and with great conviction, "Democrats don't like church."

Oh my, talk about a red-faced moment--the timing couldn't have been worse. Yet even in my embarrassment I found myself struggling to hold in the laughter, wondering where on earth he came up with such a thing, since I promise it's not something I've been teaching him! (His grandma--my mother--is a lifelong Democrat and faithful churchgoer.)

The only thing I can come up with is that he must have been listening (and paying attention) as I shared some of the Pew poll results (see previous post) with my husband. And naturally he picked one of the quietest moments in one of the most inopportune places to share his little proclamation.

As I was sharing this story with a few friends in the church office yesterday, expressing my concern over what those who may have overheard might think, I again repeated that this is not something I would teach my children since their very own grandma is both a Democrat and a faithful Christian. Evan was with me at the time, and when I got to this part of the story he suddenly turned around, looked up at me, and asked in a wondering voice, "Grandma is a Democrat?"

Oh dear. I think this child and I need to have a little talk.