The Present Is a Gift from God

This morning we’re going to pretend that we’re going to drive to the state fair. When we back out of our driveways, where does the driver look? (Solicit responses that they look behind them or they look in the rear view mirror behind them). The driver looks behind to make sure that he doesn’t run into anything and that you stay safe. After you’ve been on the road for a while, have you ever asked your mom or dad, “When are we going to be there?” (Solicit responses from the children). Sometimes we are so focused on what will be that we don’t enjoy the present. Ask the children what else they could do while they are driving to the fair – hopefully they will say that they can play games, sing songs, talk with their family members.

You know, a lot of times we forget what is most important. We spend too much time thinking about what might have been if only we had done something differently (like looking too long in the rear view mirror.) Or we concentrate on what we will be once we grow up and we forget that today is a gift from God and it would be a shame to waste it.

We need to remember that yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is called the present and is a gift from God.

If time permits, have the children sing, “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Dear Lord, we know that you would rather have us think about today, realizing it is a very special blessing. So Lord we thank you for this day, for the sunshine, for being able to pray here in church and being with our family! Amen.