Palm Leaves

The children, with nervously excited smiles, walked down the aisle waving palm branches to honor our Father. They lifted their voices in sweet praise as they worshipped in their own childlike, uninhibited way. I stood with pride in my eyes as I watched these kids love on their Jesus without worrying what anyone thought about them. Next thing I knew, Gracie was joining me back at our seats, grabbing my hand and looking up at me with joy written all over face. The service sped by, and we were standing up to receive communion. Gracie's first communion. We waited for Cameron to join us so we could go as a family, and as I was waiting, I watched the families go by with a reverent air as they put the bread of His body and the juice of His blood into their mouths, and it dawned on me how a big a deal this really was! I knelt with Gracie in my lap, and we prayed asking Him to make us pure, telling Him how much we love Him, and want to live for Him. Then it was our turn. We held hands and walked up the aisle together as a family and displayed our love for Him. We reclaimed our seats and started to sing, and as I pushed down the urge to let my emotions spill over Pastor asked the kids to come back up for the palm leaves they left at the altar and pass them around. The music started again and as praise was given to the One who loves us so dearly, you could see these palm leaves being lifted up to the sky in worship. My eyes filled up with tears and my arms broke out in little bumps and I couldn't get the words to pass my lips. I just stood there and imagined what it would be like to wave those leaves in His presence. Then I realized I was in His presence...