One of the best children’s stories I have ever told for a church is not a story at all, but an object lesson. The story needs to be first experienced by the adult telling the story as though they are a child. It is really quite simple. It can be found in your own backyard, down the path at the closest park, or at the local flower shop.

First identify 10 flowers and about another 10 leaves, types of bark, or twigs. Do not touch them, just look at them. Take a good look at them. Find their common names if you do not know them and take pictures of them. And make sure that none of them are poisonous in any way or have thorns on them. You will be using them around children later.

Now pick one of each. Do this only if it is legal. Then take a moment feel the texture of each. Pull them apart. Let your yourself really discover the sensory aspects of the flower, leaf, or piece of bark. Now you are ready to do the object lesson.

Make a big and beautiful centerpiece full of these items. Really do it up like a master florist would. And before the service starts place it at the front of the church. It is best if these flowers are the only flowers for that day.

To start with, have the children just look at the flowers as you did to start with. Explain to them that this is like looking at God from distance. We look at God from a distance when we say a quick prayer before a meal or before going to bed. We also keep God at distance when we only read about Him and His principles through spiritual writings or by listening to Children’s stories like this one.

Then ask for volunteers and ask the volunteers to each pick out a flower and pull it out of the bouquet. This should get a few gasps from the adults and now you have the full attention of both audiences. Ask the volunteers to feel the flowers and ask one of the boys to pull his flower apart as he is examining it. Let any child that wants to, to follow suit.

Now explain that God never intended for us as humans to live at a distance. He intended for us to get close, to feel the warmth of His love, to slip into His lap, and to experience the fullness of life with Him. It is man that has come along and told the children not to touch God and just read their Bibles and pray. It is man that says it is impossible for humans to experience the fun, the joy and even the pleasure of God. But these flowers say otherwise. They say look at me, smell me, touch me, and pull me apart. They say God designed me to so you could understand what is in His heart for you.

Ask the children to share the flowers with the adults. Make sure that rest of the bouquet is taken and shared out to the adults. Then sit down and know that God is sitting right next to you hugging you. You have just said more about him than a thousand sermons will ever say and you have said with flowers.

I am not sure how to share this in a non-church setting but it does not take a belief in God to know that nature whispers to us constantly, life is to be experienced, it is to be touched and enjoyed, it is to be full.

When picking out your flowers make sure to pick ones that look soft, delicate, or furry. I would recommend Madrone as one of the leaves and twigs and Soap Plant as one of the leaves.

There is one last thing I want to ask you to do. Find a Calla Lily that is just opening and touch the inside of it. And with that, I will stop, because most likely what are you experiencing is no children’s story. For me it is equal to feelings I have only for God and my spouse.

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