Little Johnny’s father was a pastor in a small church.

In a quiet, cozy town, there lived a young boy named Little Johnny. His father served as the pastor of a small, tight-knit church where everyone knew one another. One afternoon, Johnny’s father sat him down to share some very big news. A highly respected bishop was traveling from far away to visit their congregation, and he would be staying right in their own guest room.

Little Johnny’s eyes lit up with excitement. To a young boy, a bishop sounded like a very grand and important person. He immediately asked his father if he would be allowed to meet the guest. After thinking it over, his father decided that giving Johnny a special job would be a great way for him to help out.

The plan was simple: the following morning, Johnny would be the one to bring the bishop a fresh cup of tea and wake him up to start the day. Johnny was thrilled and promised to be on his very best behavior.

Practice Makes Perfect

To make sure everything went smoothly, his father gave him a specific set of instructions. He told Johnny to walk up to the guest room, knock politely on the door, and deliver a very respectful greeting. The father coached him to say exactly these words: “It’s the boy, my Lord, it’s time to get up.”

Johnny took his job very seriously. For the rest of the evening, you could hear him whispering the line under his breath as he moved around the house. He said it while he brushed his teeth, he said it while he put on his pajamas, and he even said it one last time before he drifted off to sleep. He wanted to make sure he didn’t miss a single word.

The Big Mistake

When morning finally arrived, the sun was just beginning to peek through the windows. Johnny’s father handed him a tray with a warm cup of tea. With a focused look on his face, the young boy walked slowly toward the guest room, careful not to spill a drop.

As he reached the wooden door, his heart started to beat a little faster. He was so excited to meet the important visitor, but he was also starting to feel quite nervous. He took a deep breath, raised his hand, and gave a soft knock.

In that moment, all of his practice seemed to fly right out the window. His tongue got tied, and his nerves took over. Instead of the polite greeting he had rehearsed, the boy shouted out: “It’s the Lord, my boy, and your time is up!”

The poor bishop certainly got a much more dramatic wake-up call than he ever expected! It just goes to show that sometimes, no matter how much we prepare, our excitement can lead to a memory that the whole family will laugh about for years to come.