Maya,the monkey squinted one eye open. Her bed that morning felt so warm and cozy that she didn’t want to get up yet. But she heard her mom’s voice reminding her that they would be late for church if she didn’t start getting ready. Maya The monkey groaned and pulled the blanket over her head. She wished she could miss today and stay in bed a little longer. Sometimes she wondered why it was important to go every Sunday. After all, it was very hard to sit still for that long and sometimes she had trouble understanding the sermon.

After Maya, the monkey ate breakfast, she brushed her teeth and smiled into the mirror as she put a pink bow in the tuft of hair on top her head. Convinced that her teeth looked bright and shiny enough, she grabbed her little Bible from her dresser and she joined her family as they scampered to the vent to watch the church service.

Maya listened to the soft music in the background as she looked around the church from her vantage point. She loved to watch the sunlight stream through the stained glass windows on either side of the church, but Maya’s favorite stained glass window was at the front of the church. It had a picture of Jesus with his arms outstretched. It was like Jesus was welcoming everyone to his house and Maya The monkey liked that. She glanced at the wooden board near the choir loft and carefully turned each page with her brothers and sisters to find the first song they would be singing.

As Maya, the monkey sat through the church service, she was sorry that she had wondered that morning why she had to go to church. Church was special for so many reasons and Maya The monkey decided to try to list as many as she could through the service that she could think of. As they sang, Maya The monkey put that as #1 on her list. The singing and praying they do at church are a part of worshipping God. Worship is showing God that you love him. The song finished and everyone sat down. Maya The monkey glanced over at her friends from school and added fellowship with other Christians to her list. As she heard the pastor list the names of people who were ill and needed prayers, Maya The monkey added that as #3. She remembered when her Uncle Maury was sick; the friends at church were the first people they asked to pray with them. The church is like your family because they pray for and care about you. As Maya The monkey listened to the sermon that morning, she added teaching as #4. Maya The monkey did learn a lot from Sunday school and from listening to the Pastor. She knew by learning as much as she could, that she would know how to be the best person she could be for Jesus. By the end of the service, Maya The monkey smiled as she heard the pastor read the final Bible verse in the sermon from Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them.” That was perfect for the last thing on her list. Maya The monkey always got a special feeling when she was in church. She knew it was because this was God’s house and when everyone was praying and worshipping together, she knew God was happy.

Maya, the monkey walked back home with her family and told her mom about her special list. Her mom agreed that those were very good reasons and she reminded Maya, the monkey why they had chosen their church. The Pastor taught from the Bible and they believed in doing their best for Jesus every day and to help others know that Jesus can be their best friend too. There are many churches to choose from to attend! If you’d like to know which church you should attend, you can pray and ask God to help you find a church that will help you grow in your faith. Some churches don’t teach about Jesus, so God will let you know where He wants you to be! Do you know Jesus as your best friend like Maya, the monkey does? If you don’t, just pray the following prayer and Jesus will come into your heart to be your Savior and best friend too. Did you know that the angels in heaven cheer and rejoice when someone asks Jesus to be their Savior? Isn’t that exciting to know? God loves you very much!

Dear God, I know I am a sinner. Please forgive me. I believe that Jesus died for me on the cross and that He arose from the grave so that I can live with Him in Heaven someday. I am now trusting Jesus as my Savior. Thank you for loving me and saving me. Amen.

May God bless these words as I strive to edify and encourage others in their walk with Christ. Married 20 years, I have a teenage son, and two wonderful golden retriever/collie dogs. I am also a contributing staff writer to www.HeartFriendz.com – an awesome website just for women! Nancy Quinn