Bible Reading: Psalm 56:3-11 “Melanie.” Andréas tiptoed to the doorway of the living room where his sister stood. “What are you doing up?” Melanie nodded toward their parents, who were talking urgently in low voices. The two listened as rapid Spanish words tumbled out of Mamá’s mouth. Papá shook his head. “No, Maria.” He took…
Bible Reading: Hebrews 13:5-8 Trisha’s stomach clenched nervously, and her eyes filled with tears. “Goodbye, Summerville,” she whispered. “I’ll miss you.” Trisha’s dad had recently gotten a job in another state, and her family was moving. “Alright, kiddos, time to get in the van,” Dad called. “We have a long ride ahead of us.” Trisha’s…
Bible Reading: Matthew 6:28–32 Emma bent down and smelled a rose in her yard. “Oh, that smells so good! I’m going to miss our flower garden so much.” “Me too,” Mom said as she took a picture of some flowers with her phone. The garden was in full bloom. There were two rose bushes, one…
Bible Reading: Mark 4:35–41 The streetlight in front of Grandma’s house shone through the bare branches of a tree outside the window and cast eerie shadows across Mia’s bed. As the wind tugged at the branches, twisted black shadows inched their way over the covers. They look like big, black teeth, Mia thought fearfully. She…
Bible Reading: Luke 12:22-31 “Deja, what do you think of all this?” Grandpa asked. Deja looked around at the beautiful landscape: the river rippling past the prow of the canoe, the tall pine trees, the fluffy clouds, and a blue, blue sky. “It’s okay,” she said, dipping her hand in the water. “You don’t sound…
Bible Reading: Psalm 46:1; Philippians 4:6-7 Library day was Kaitlin’s favorite of the school week. When Mrs. Chinn released the third graders to look for books, Kaitlin and her best friend, Tommy, rushed to the mystery section. “I read this one last month,” Tommy said. “Do you want it?” “Sure, I’ll put it on my…
Bible Reading: Psalm 56 Jane jumped when she heard her classroom’s intercom crackle and Principal Long’s voice boom, “Lockdown drill!” Jane’s brain was buzzing, and she couldn’t remember what to do. Do I turn my chair upside down first, or do I kneel on the floor first? Why is it so quiet in here? Oh…
Bible Reading: Psalm 5:11-12; Romans 8:28 “Oh, Mom! I don’t feel good,” moaned Camilla one morning. “Can I stay home today?” She sat down and clutched her stomach. Looking concerned, Mom agreed that Camilla could stay home from school. An hour or so later, Camilla felt much better, and she went to help her mother…
Bible Reading: Luke 12:22-34 Tymeria let the rope slide slowly through her hand as she backed over the edge of the cliff inch by inch. She made her body into an L shape with her feet resting on the side of the cliff. She gripped the rope as tightly as she could through her thick…
Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-6; 34:4; John 14:27 Emily giggled. She couldn’t help it. Her cousins Travis and Drake were visiting, and she was too excited to sleep. “Shhh,” Travis whispered from his pallet of blankets on the living room floor. Emily’s brother Christopher came bounding into the room wearing a blanket around his shoulders like…
