Read: John 10:25-30 Brayan and his parents lived out in the country, right next door to the McNairs’ alpaca ranch. Brayan was fascinated with the alpacas. He would often sit outside and watch them grazing. “Brayan!” Mom called to him one day. “Mr. McNair invited you to come over at six-thirty this evening to help…
Read: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 “I hate weeding,” Lynnie huffed, yanking another scraggly weed away from the green beans and throwing it into a pile. Jayson sat on the soft grass, picking blades and throwing them into the air. Lynnie watched the wind blow the grass away. “I don’t want to weed anymore, Mom. I want…
Read: Psalm 5:1-3 “Your science project is looking good,” Grandpa said as he looked over Sophia’s shoulder. “Thanks,” said Sophia. “I’m calling it ‘Means of Communication.’ It’s about how the ways people communicate with each other over long distances have developed over time.” She pointed to pictures on her display board showing handwritten letters, telegraphs,…
Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 Wynn visited her garden every day, and her tomato plants, which she and her sister had named Love, Joy, Patience, and Goodness, grew and grew. Then one evening dark clouds began to gather on the horizon. At first Wynn watched from her bedroom window as droplets of water fell from the…
Read: Galatians 5:16-26 “Riley!” Wynn called to her sister as she inspected her four tiny tomato plants. “Look, little green tomatoes!” This was Wynn’s very first time growing a garden, and she was very excited. Riley smiled. “See? You just needed to have patience.” Riley was fourteen and had helped their mother grow vegetable gardens…
Read: 1 John 4:7-16 Ella was pouting when she and her mother returned home from shopping. “What’s the matter, grumpy face?” asked her brother, Jax. Ella scowled. “Mom gets you everything you want, but she wouldn’t buy anything for me. All I wanted was a smiling flower shirt.” Jax laughed. “A smiling flower shirt on…
Read: Psalm 143:8-10; 1 John 4:1-6 “Dad, what are those ropes on the side of the road?” asked six-year-old Arthur as they drove down the highway. “Those are called guardrails,” Dad replied. “Sometimes guardrails are made of wide metal bands, and sometimes they’re heavy wire ropes. They’re to make sure people driving on the highway…
Read: 1 Samuel 23:14-18 “I’m quitting basketball,” Tyler announced flatly as his dad entered the room. “Quitting?” asked Dad. “But you could hardly wait to join the team!” Tyler frowned. “I’m just a benchwarmer. Coach Adams hardly ever lets me play.” “Well, no, he hasn’t yet, but he told me you have great potential.” “If…
Read: Isaiah 55:10-11; James 1:21-25 “Mom, I can’t get the toaster to work!” called William. Receiving no answer, he went to the small office where his mother was working on her computer. “I want to make some toast, but the toaster’s not working,” he said. “It won’t heat up.” Mom shuffled through papers on her…
Read: Psalm 119:162-168 “What’s all that material for, Mom?” Serenity asked when she and Charis got home from school. “And what are these little frame things?” “Your grandma needs some hot pads, so I thought maybe you and Charis could make some for her birthday,” Mom replied. “These ‘frame things’ are little hand looms. I’ll…
