I watched the church

Yesterday, I watched the Church And my heart was filled. I watched all of the kids joining the worship team on stage I watched some sing into their mom’s microphone I watched them doing the actions And my heart was filled I watched the church come forward for communion I watched one man take it for only the second time ever, because he’s only been a Christian for a month I watched a nine-year-old girl lead her little brother and sister to the table because bother her parents were on stage leading worship And my heart was filled I watched a husband and wife smiling and laughing, though I know that they're in the middle of a life shaking, world changing challenge. I watched the love between them, though I know they are a couple of years removed from a marital separation that felt like it might have gone either way. I watched their children running through the halls in joy after the service. And my heart was filled I watched the congregation laugh at their pastor's propensity to mix up his words, but I didn’t feel anything but love in the moment because I knew they wee laughing with me, not at me. I watched child after child quote the memory verse of the month, and maybe they’re just doing it for the candy bribe...but they're still memorizing scripture And my heart was filled I watched all the scurrying that happens before the service replaced by relaxed laughter afterwards I watched the room fill up as the first song plays. I watched the church answer the call to worship I watched the church come back after 2 years of unprecedented times And my heart was filled I watched those wearing masks talking and laughing in unity with those who weren't I watching people come forward with prayer requests, trusting the congregation with them. I watched people come forward with praise reports of how the church WAS the church in their lives this week. Yesterday, I watched the church And my heart was filled