SermonStudio

Together the nursery children and I wondered at the beauty and importance of water as part of God's good plan. We washed the dishes and dolls, waded in paper puddles, made butter sandwiches for a seashore picnic, fished in a rocking boat while sharing a story of Jesus and his friends going fishing, and sang our thanks "for rain that comes falling" and "The Eensy-Weensy Spider."

"The eensy-weensy spider went up the waterspout,

Down came the rain and washed the spider out,

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain

And the eensy-weensy spider went up the spout again."

We sang with joy as I wondered, "Is this song religious?"

I listened to the words again and heard that the spider "went up." "Up" is forward, growing, moving.

But the rain came down and washed the spider out. Rain both provides growth as well as disappointment. Too much rain "floods" and destroys. So we learn to "swim" in the waters of life. Then "out came the sun" and we feel its warmth, remembering its dependability. The words plant "seeds" of hope, encouraging us to go "up the waterspout again" ... and again ... and again.

Talk together: What do you like best about rain? About sunshine? How is water part of God's plan? Which do you prefer, rain or sunshine? Why? Sing the song now with me.

Prayer: God, we thank you for the rain and for the sun, without which we could not grow. Amen.