A couple had two young sons, ages eight and ten, who were always getting into trouble.
The boys were so mischievous that whenever something went wrong in town, people often suspected they had something to do with it.
Their parents had tried everything, but nothing seemed to improve their behavior.
Finally, they heard about a local clergyman who had helped other children become more well-behaved. Hoping he could help, they arranged for him to meet with the boys one at a time.
The younger boy went in first.
The clergyman looked at him seriously and asked,
“Where is God?”
The boy stayed completely silent.
The clergyman asked again, this time in a firmer voice,
“Where is God?”
Still, the boy said nothing.
Finally, the clergyman leaned forward, pointed his finger, and asked loudly,
“WHERE IS GOD?”
The frightened boy jumped out of his chair, ran all the way home, and hid inside his closet.
A few moments later, his older brother found him hiding there.
“What happened?” he asked.
The younger boy whispered,
“We’re in BIG trouble this time. God is missing, and they think we did it!”