We have to sit in church all day.
What will the preacher have to say?
He’ll tell us what we all should do.
We should be loving, kind and true.

Mother is in the choir loft.
She looks down. We hear her cough.
That means “Do not slouch in your seat.
And keep your dresses nice and neat.”

The organ plays. The choir stands.
They hold their music in their hands.
We all arise to sing the song.
Verse after verse, it’s way too long.

They bellow out a hymn we know.
Please speed it up so we can go.
The preacher starts to talk once more.
He’s saying things we’ve heard before.

We look around so we can see
What grown-ups do because they’re free
To do whatever comes to mind,
Like sing or pray if so inclined.

We see a man playing with his phone.
We soon find out he’s not alone.
We hear another cell phone beep.
Look! Mrs. Biggs is fast asleep!

A lady in a big blue hat
Eats candy. Is that why she’s fat?
We should not have to sit this long.
As children, we think this is wrong.

The Hampton family comes in late.
They always miss the collection plate.
Two young adults are chewing gum,
Playing cell phone games and having fun.

Mother makes her coughing sound.
That means, “You’d better turn around.”
Deacon Jones stands up to pray.
We wish we could go out to play.

If we were grown what fun 'twould be
To sit where Mother could not see.
We’d bring great snacks to church to eat
Or close our eyes and go to sleep.

If we were grown as we recall,
We would not go to church at all.
We’d stay at home and play with toys.
Dad would not mind if we made noise.

But Mother said, “Life’s not all play.
Sitting in church won’t waste your day.
You’re there to learn what’s wrong or right,
And learn how to become a light.

Learn how to brighten someone’s life.
Learn to have faith. Live without strife.
You’re not in church just to have fun.
Your goal? Have our Lord say, ‘Well Done!’”