The three of us had played school, read books, eaten snacks, and watched Clifford the Big Red Dog. This could only mean one thing. Church bells were ringing.

Playing church is high on my grand girls’ list when they come to Keggie’s house and that’s fine by this belle. I’m all over it! Our services follow a predictable pattern but they also have unique twists you won’t necessarily find in your more traditional settings. We hold church in the piano room.  I’m generally the pianist, Carlisle Mae leads the music, and her older sister Emerson brings the sermon. Emerson Ann is quite the fiery little preacher. 

On the day I’m speaking of, then five-year-old Emerson was bringing one of her characteristically stirring messages in which she likes to take a theme and hit it hard and often from all directions.

“We are God’s sheep,” she began. “And He is our shepherd.”

Emerson paused to stare at me. “Amen!” I said, belatedly. (In my defense, the song leader had just fallen and whacked her head on the piano bench. Someone had to give first aid.)

Pleased with my participation even if it was coerced, Emerson continued, reversing the order of her last point for emphasis. “He is our shepherd,” my granddaughter proclaimed. “And we are His sheep.”

“Amen,” I said, quickly this time. I said it several more times as she continued to hammer on her theme, until suddenly three-year-old Carlisle decided she’d recovered enough to preach. I brought this to the senior pastor’s attention. I thought we might have a church split for a minute there, but after a brief debate, Emerson begrudgingly introduced the visiting speaker. 

Carlisle set her Bible at her feet and propped one foot on it, (I can only surmise that she was standing on the promises.) Then she pointed her finger at the congregation. (me, Emerson, Froggy, and Bear) and announced, “We are His Shepherd, and He is our sheep!”

I grinned when Carlisle Mae got it exactly backwards, but I couldn’t help thinking that she totally nailed one of our biggest issues. I’m talking big believers now. We are each born with a desire to rule. If we can’t rule the whole world, we at least want to rule our own domain. And yet, the only way we will ever learn to reign in life is by kneeling.  In the words of Senior Pastor Emerson Ann, “He is the Shepherd, we are the sheep.”

Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3

P.S. If you enjoyed this devotional, you can find a ton more just like it in a devotional I released called Devotions for the Hungry Heart!