Object: A large chair with a big ribbon and the letters VIP written on the ribbon.

Good morning, boys and girls. Today I have something for you to see that will be impressive. First of all I hope that you have noticed this beautiful chair that I have taken the trouble to bring in and put in this place of honor. It is a lovely chair and quite unusual. Is there anyone here who has a chair that looks exactly like this one in his home? I should hope not, because this is a very special chair. Let me show you why this chair is so important. I have a beautiful ribbon that I am going to put around the back of this chair so that no one except one person sits in it. [Put the ribbon on and play up the letters VIP.] That is very good, and it makes the chair even more special. I hope that you have noticed the letters that are written on the ribbon. What do they say? Do you know what the letters stand for? [Let them answer.] It stands for VERY IMPORTANT PERSON. That means that this chair is being saved for some VERY IMPORTANT PERSON.

Some people are different from other people because we think that they are more important. They may have a very good voice or sing well or they may play baseball better than others. They may be elected to offices like the President of the United States or the Governor of the state. But for some reason we have made them very important persons.

God once made a woman a VIP. How do I know? The Bible tells about a woman named Elizabeth who was about to have a baby. One day a woman by the name of Mary came to visit Elizabeth. When Mary walked through the door, Elizabeth’s unborn baby jumped inside her in such a way that was very different from any other time. Elizabeth knew that it was because of Mary’s visit and she told her so. She also said that God had favored her and had made her the most important woman who had ever lived. Of course later on we know that Mary also carried a baby whose name was Jesus and that is the reason that she was so important.

Mary was a VIP, a very important person, and Elizabeth knew it the moment she saw her. We know it today, and if she were here we would want her to sit in a special chair. We would listen to her tell about the ways of her son, Jesus. The next time you hear someone talk about a VIP you will remember what it means, and then you will remember how Elizabeth saw Mary and knew right away how important Mary was.