War In Heaven

War in Heaven

Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11

The children had rehearsed their parts in the Christmas production for months. All went well, until the grand finale.

Mary and Joseph came onstage with the baby Jesus. Angels followed, then the shepherds. Next came the wise men. The cutest came last.

A murmur of delight greeted the twelve two- and three-year-old cherubs who walked onstage holding hands, dressed in long white robes and silver halos. They obediently formed a semicircle in front of the baby; then they sat down cross legged—with one exception.

Brad’s freckled face broke into an excited grin as he spotted Granny. He pulled his hand free and waved. People chuckled. Embarrassed, the little boy pulled on his robe, revealing a pair of chubby legs and blue boxer shorts.

Three-year-old Laura decided to get things back on track. She grabbed Brad’s shorts and tugged. The congregation roared. Brad grabbed his shorts; then he saw Laura. He might be only two years old, but no girl would get the better of him. He took a swing.

Laura obviously had older brothers. She scrambled to her feet and shoved him. Brad came back, both fists flailing. I jumped forward and swept Brad offstage. Another teacher grabbed Laura. The congregation was hysterical.

We completed the play, but the planned spectacular ending did not happen. Some of the children had the giggles. Ripples of laughter kept sweeping across the hall. The two littlest angels sat and glared at each other.

After the curtain closed, the pastor thanked the Sunday school for their “most unusual presentation” of the Christmas story. When the laughter subsided, he added, “In the book of Revelation we read, ‘Then there was war in heaven’ and some of the angels were cast down to earth” (see Revelation 12:7-9).

—Shirley M. Corder

Lord, I am so grateful that you don’t expect perfection from us, only obedience. Amen.