The preacher watched the little boy as he walked through the church,
Looked under all the rows of pews as though he were in search
Of something he had dropped, perhaps, now lying on the floor...
But then he checked the altar and he looked behind the door.
The boy then checked the bathrooms and he searched the nursery
And, as he watched, the preacher smiled with curiosity
Till finally he approached the lad and said, "Excuse me, son.
Did you lose something here or are you just out having fun?"

"My momma said that God lives here", the boy said with a frown.
"But I've been looking everywhere. He must not be around."
The preacher smiled at that small child and said, "No, that's not true
Our God is here, you precious lad. He's there inside of you."

"Inside of me!?", the boy exclaimed. "Well, would you not get mad
If I just take him home with me to meet my mom and dad?"
"Not mad at all", the preacher said. "There really is no call.
You see, my son, the fact is that our God is in us all."

"No way!", the boy cried. "Don't tell me he's in that bully Spike
Who punches me in school all day and stole my brother's bike!
Or what about the counselors who scream at me in school
Or grandma when she comes around and treats me mean and cruel?"

"Them, too", the preacher said, "and you can take it for a fact
That God's in everyone you see, no matter how they act.
It may be hard believing when you see the things some do
But, though the devil's present, know that God is in there, too."

"Then I guess I should love all men", the little boy replied.
"Ain't right to hate nobody, knowin' they've got God inside.
I'll try to live my life the best I can to show I care
For everyone, no matter what, 'cause I know God's in there."

The boy then turned away and, in the middle of his walk,
He called back to the preacher,"Hey! I'm glad we had this talk!"
"I'm glad we had it, too." he whispered to the little child
And, somewhere high above them both, the Lord looked down and smiled.