How you are suppose to be in church

Have you ever noticed how kids seem to "express" themselves so much more in public? Mine do and the stories of their self proclamation are endless. Being in ministry seems to make these episodes so much more rich and story worthy. I thought I would share some from time to time. Maybe...in the hopes of... not being alone in this never ending struggle of letting your kids be themselves and acting "right" in front of others(especially in church). My husband has been the senior pastor for eight months now at our church, and the things my three kids decide to do at church... God bless us all.
My oldest is Grace and she is a warm and loving kid, but she is one that tends to be brutally honest. You never really know what she is going to say. So when she gets to talking, look out! Our children's pastor came to us last week to tell Jason and I how much he and his wife Lisa just love Grace. Feeling so pleased with the complement I began to chat with them about my darling's wonderful qualities. "Yes she is so smart and amazes me how much she understands for a six year old.... I know she really does enjoy to worship God... I agree it is the sweetest thing how she will raise her hands and turn her face to heaven as she sings... she really is such an honest person..." ( uh-oh the radar is now going off in my brain- what did she say?). At this point Pastor Jeff begins to fill me in on how Grace changed his perspective on Sunday morning Children's Church. You have to understand in her defense she has grown up in church and knows when someone is just going through the motions.
The story is as follows as it was repeated to me:
Pastor Jeff gets up to speak after the morning worship and since he was working the night shift the night before was very sleepy.
Grace: Pastor Jeff, what are you doing?
Pastor Jeff: I"m preaching.
Grace: No your not.
Pastor Jeff: Then what am I doing?
Grace: You are being BORING!!!!!!!!!
Pastor Jeff: Your right! This is not how you are suppose to preach! I am being boring. (He then apologizes to the crowd of children and gets up from where he was sitting and begins to preach his lesson with lots of excitement.)

Now I must note that he delayed in telling us this for several weeks because he did not want to get Grace in trouble. Pastor Jeff is telling me this story with deep love and affection for her because he says it changed how he views what he does. It doesn't matter how sleepy or unprepared he feels, it gave him a zeal or lit a fire under him as he puts it, he is going to preach with joy and strength from the Lord to the kids.
In a moment like this you never know weather you should be mortified and explain "how you are suppose to be in church" or thank God that she had the gumption to speak the truth in love.