Pastor Terry had planned what she anticipated would be an excellent children's message for the fourth Sunday of Advent. Using today's text, she intended to illustrate for the children and for the congregation the vital importance of paying attention to the signs of the coming Christ Child that God gives us. Her key verse was Isaiah 7:14a: "Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign." She had painstakingly constructed a "stop" sign, using red construction paper, a white marker, and a wooden dowel.

When the children gathered around her on the front of the chancel steps, Pastor Terry held up the sign and asked, "What is this?" And even the youngest of the children obligingly exclaimed, "A stop sign!" Pastor Terry thought to herself, "Oh, yes; it's going according to my plan."

She cont…