And The Children Will Lead Us

Despite the bright, sunny sky this morning, the whole family was feeling very homebody-ish.  Most Sunday mornings we look forward to heading out the door to the church we love. But today we decided we wanted to hang out at home, just the four of us.

A few minutes after we decided to stay home, Eliza Grace said that she wanted to lead us in a church service.  A fabulous idea! (and a little convicting, no?)

Over the next hour, while we played some of our favorite contemporary Christian music, Eliza Grace worked on the message she wanted to share, creating what she referred to as "grown up" church as well as a kids program for Will.

When we were all seated on the couch, Eliza Grace welcomed us and began her message on how to deal with anger.  (There's that conviction again.)

She gave us a scenario of activities we encounter throughout a typical day, asking us to provide input about different things that might happen to make us angry.  Each time we told her something that might make us angry, she blew a balloon up a little bit. 

Each angry reaction resulted in the balloon getting bigger and bigger until the last straw caused the balloon to fly out of control - just like what can happen when we are angry.

She then repeated the scenario, this time allowing the balloon to lose a little air after each time she blew it up. "As you can see," she said,"if you let some of your anger go each time, you won't get to the point where you burst after letting the anger build up all day."

She then read from the Bible. "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20. She then led us in prayer, asking God to help us better control our anger.

Wow.

Next came the kids program.  Eliza Grace had cut out hearts for her and Will to decorate. 

It was a fabulous, wonderful, convicting, splendid church service at our house today. We do so love our child who has a heart and soul for God.