“Be thou an example of the believers,
in word, in conversation, in charity,
in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12
They’ve lined up the chairs in the back bedroom where
It’s time for their “meeting,” their singing and prayer.
The little girls sit solemn with their dolls in a row,
Their coverings askew and stuffed diaper bags in tow.
Then in toddles Baby, who wants to play, too,
Only one and a half, yet she knows what to do.
She fetches a dish rag from the dolly dish pan,
And covers her head with it, the best that she can.
It may be lopsided, and she’s messed up her hair,
But with hymnbook in hand she scoots onto a chair.
This causes disturbance, for she’s picked the wrong one;
That was Raggedy Ann’s chair and she’s spoiled the fun.
Raggedy Ann’s “mother” is now very displeased,
That her “daughter’s” been shoved to the floor with such ease.
That’s Ann’s chair and not to be used for another,
She tries to take action; Baby shrieks for her mother.
A quarrel’s begun, Mother must interfere,
The meeting resumes when each has their own chair.
A hymn’s given out, and though the number was heard,
The songs that they sing seem composed of strange words.
Some songs are phrased from two hymns combined,
Though each sings a different one, they don’t seem to mind.
Their dolls, like our children, when it comes time for prayer,
Remain with eyes open, but a very blank stare.
Their children don’t wiggle as much as ours do,
They appear to be listening, and well-behaved, too.
When they’re alone, the girls read and they pray,
But if brother arrives, he wants things done his way.
The “moms” are to listen, the “dads” are to “read,”
He opens his Bible and he takes the lead.
When his sister decides that it’s time for a hymn,
He cannot compete, so he decides to give in.
A song is sung, a prayer is said, someone speaks a word,
A “He said unto them ... ,” a crying baby’s heard.
Mother smiles to herself, as she hears them at their play,
Imitating what they saw while in meeting yesterday.
How important our example when to meeting we have come,
For our examples may be copied by some present little one.