Today will go down in history as the day we wore out our welcome at church.
Didn’t think it was possible to wear out one’s welcome at church didya?
Apparently you haven’t met Cassidy.
Little backstory here: A couple of weeks ago I read a post written by the fabulous Michelle at Scribbit. In it, she debated the merits of the word ‘stupid’ being labeled a “bad word” in households across America.
We happen to be one of those households, though I do agree with Michelle that there most certainly is a time and place for the use of the word. The reason we’ve outlawed its use in our home is mostly due to Cassidy, and her inability to understand the use of the word in context. Cassidy, for those of you who don’t know, has Down syndrome and among the issues she struggles with is determining what is and is not socially appropriate. While I don’t see anything wrong with remarking that something is stupid, calling someone stupid is something else entirely. And since Cassidy has a tendency to pick up bad habits, we’ve just found it easier to avoid saying ‘stupid’ at all. I’ve also been sure to address it as a “mean word” when she does hear it spoken on television or on the playground.
So. Back to church.
Guess what word worked its way into our Pastor’s sermon this fine Sunday morning?
Uh-huh. Stupid.
Not once, but twice did he say it. And it wasn’t as though he just let it slip. He used it (twice) for emphasis. For effect. To get our attention.
It worked.
The first time he said it Cassidy drew in a sharp breath before leaning in to tell me that “he said a bad word.”
The second time, her eyes grew wide with disbelief, shocked that the pastor, of all people, would have the nerve to say ‘stupid’ right there in God’s living room. This time, she turned to Jeff, gasping and throwing her hand up over her own mouth in shock. Jeff whispered to her, telling her that he’d have a talk with the pastor after church. Cassidy seemed satisfied with that.
The rest of the sermon was uneventful.
It’s really a shame that I can’t say the same for communion.
We filed up to the altar as we always do: Cassidy sandwiched between Jeff and I. I accepted my wafer and wine and made my way back to the pew, completely unaware of what went on in my wake.
Apparently, when it came time for the Pastor to give Cassidy a blessing, he bent down to make the sign of the cross on her forehead as he always does. Never one to ignore the opportunity for reprimand, Cassidy grabbed the Pastor’s arms and pulled him down to her level. Seeing as how his hands were full trying to maintain balance of the body and the blood he was left pretty much at Cassidy’s whim. And Jeff, thinking that she was trying to give him a hug, didn’t react immediately.
He wishes he had though. Boy does he.
Because Cassidy, let me assure you, was not trying to get a hug from our Pastor.
Once she had his attention she said to him, in a voice as stern as she could muster, “don’t you ever say stupid again.”
Of course, as soon as he realized what was happening Jeff took control of the situation.
Assuming, that is, that a silent prayer for immediate invisibility can be considered taking control of the situation.
God wasn’t in a prayer granting mood apparently because Jeff was anything but invisible. Rather, he turned a lovely shade of cherry red.
Based on our Pastor’s bewildered look we’re guessing he either didn’t hear or didn’t understand Cassidy’s sharp scolding.
And that, my friends, is worthy of thanksgiving.
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Amen, sister!
Hmmm… I wonder where Cassidy gets it… ;o)
Will Jeff be letting you take her up for communion from now on?
How FUNNY! You made my day!
Oh My Gosh. How utterly precious and innocent. And we don’t like that word in our house either!
Steph
Hilarious!! But I can’t imagine that you will be banned from Church for that. Surely the Pastor remembers how literal children are. . . great post!
We don’t like that word either. Love that Cassidy took a stand although I probably would have liked to have melted into the church floor too. At least you know you’re getting through, right?
Now that is laugh out loud funny! I can just picture that scene, too.
We don’t use that word either, because of Catie’s inability to discriminate usage. But I do agree that things do sometimes deserve the label.
That was the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time! We don’t use that word in our house either. I just don’t like it. Cassidy was doing what she thought was right. I would’ve turned red, too, though!
I can see Cass doing that… It brings a tear to my eye.
Oh my word…”stupid” is considered a bad word in any phrase in our house..my husband thinks i’m nuts…I consider “butt” to be a bad word also :)!
this is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard happening in church…
Haha great story. I love it! :-) Totally cracked me up this morning . . . I would have been embarrassed too but I’m sure the preacher understood – and he should watch his “language” next time! :-)
Yikes! That’s, well… quite frankly that’s hilarious! Serves the preacher right for using profanity. :)
Oh my that is a good story. We don’t say that word here, either. I think I would have cracked up, seriously. And left. At least he didn’t spill the body and the blood. Now that, my friend, could have caused some problems.
I love Cassidy stories. I think we all could use to be a little more like Cassidy sometimes!
I think that’s hilarious! Thanks for sharing!
You go, Cassidy! Tell it like it is, sister. That is going to be one of the family history books — something tells me you’ll tell that one over and over again. :)
We avoid that word where we can, too, because the kids haven’t quite got it figured out that there’s one way to use it and another way not to. There’s plenty of time in their lives ahead for such things. Thanks for sharing.
This is a classic story! You will be telling this one for years to come. I’m sure your pastor was chuckling about it later that day. We have the same policy about stupid, but it slips from my mouth every once in a while and my kids sure let me know.
Oh, My Word. This is hilarious. :)
I am sure this was tough on ya’ll but I love this story. Thanks for sharing it with us! :0)
OMG! Good for her!
We are a household who considers “stupid” to be a naughty word.
And apparently the ‘bad word police’ has been telling on her classmates for saying a ‘bad word’. We had to explain to the teacher that we don’t differentiate between bad words and really bad words. They all carry the same weight in our house.
That’s HILARIOUS! Shared that one with the hubster. I would have been mortified. But it’s a great story. Thanks for sharing.
That is so funny! I love it.
My daughter tells me when people use the “s word”. It always takes a minute for it to register…
Every time you write about Cassidy I just smile. Think of how boring life would’ve been, had she not come into the world with spunk and personality!
Hi Darcie,
You tell Cass Aunt “Chory” is with her, I love that she tells it exactly as she sees it!