First Communion with a Child

When our children were young and communion was offered in church, they wondered why we prevented their partaking. It all seemed so intriguing to them, and all the more by the seeming reverence surrounding and it being kept from them. Was it because they were too young? Or was it something else? Of course, it was too much to explain in the moment, so with a brief, “Not yet,” we'd go on with our adult ritual and leave the children to understand it another day.

In time, that day would come. We had a number of children and with each, we had been enlightening in the ways of God. When I saw that there was indeed enough maturity and an open sensitivity to the truth of Jesus, I deemed it was time.

What I could have done, and is probably more typical, was to tell them on a given Sunday that now was the time they could take communion with the rest of us. Or there might have been a simple nod on the day of and the child would know it was now okay.

I didn't want to do it that way. I wanted them to know by their own belief, and not that of their parents, what it all meant. This was the beginning of what would be an ongoing affirmation of something that really happened, and that was for their sake.

So, on a given day I packed a small chunk of bread and a small container of grape juice in my pocket, along with a couple of small drinking glasses, and suggested we take a walk. For each it was different; for one it was a drive and a walk, for another just a trip to the backyard. In every case, it was to a place where just the two of us could sit and talk.

We talked about the Lord. It wasn't for information; they had been learning all along. More, I was listening, listening for their understanding of things. When I was satisfied with the reality of their belief, and they had previously, indeed, invited Jesus into their heart, we took communion.

It was simple. Jesus said it was to be a reminder. The juice was the blood, the bread the body, both of which he sacrificed for us. Taking it evidenced our belief. That was it. After we'd taken the cup and the bread, we each offered a simple prayer and it was over. We went home.

It was meaningful, kind of an initiation, not to church—at least not to a local church—more like to the whole church, the worldwide body of believers who share communion and have been doing this since the time Jesus first instructed his followers to do likewise.

After that, when the cup and the bread were offered at some service, there was no question. The child took it, knowing full well why. If a younger sibling was still asked to wait, the older would just signal, “Be patient . . . it matters that you know what you're doing.”

In the painting, it's all adults and tribal. But as with the children, they first had to learn and then to believe. For some it took, and is taking, a very long time for the news to reach them, that the Son of God came and gave himself for them. But by their belief, they too are welcome. The table of Jesus is welcome to all.

Learn more about Hyatt Moore's art at HyattMoore.com