Janet’s Notes

Bible stories are a source of wisdom for both you and your child.

The theme of all the stories in this collection is that God loves you just as you are. Each one of us is special, unique and valuable.

My goal for this short story collection is to help my readers identify with the child in each story. I believe the Bible offers us a solid foundation for living. It’s just that most of the time, we’re afraid to open it. Think about the life lessons your children are receiving today from the television, computer, movies and books. Are they the values, the attitudes, the behaviours you want them to learn?

Table of Contents

The Bad Boy
Given Away
I Am Special!
Not Left Behind
A Boy & His Lunch
A Gift Gone Wrong
The Messenger
A Miracle For Me
Talitha Cum

Sample

(Note: When I wrote the The Bad Boy, I felt the pain of the many children who  believe they are misfits. My vision is that  this story will help you and your child identify with Kane, the “troubled child”. Compassion for others as well as the knowledge of God’s unconditional love for ourselves are life-lessons we need.)

The Bad Boy

Hi there! My name is Kane. I am the middle child. Don’t roll your eyes. I know. The middle child always complains about being forgotten, or passed over, or ignored. Let me tell you, none of those things ever happened to me. Everyone always knew I was there and wished I was someplace else. They preferred my big brother, David, or my little sister, Susie.

David, started out as the “good boy.” He learned to walk and talk early. He likes people and they like him. He always seems to know the right thing to say and do. Even cranky old Aunt Elizabeth loves David. For example, one day when David and I were carrying water, David tripped and spilled his bucketful, splashing Aunt Elizabeth’s skirt.“I am so sorry.” That’s all David said, as he looked up at her, tears in his eyes. Instead of slapping David, she brushed off her dress and said, “That’s O.K. We’ll mop it up, and you can get more.”

If that had been me, she would have slapped me and called me clumsy. No words of sorry would have helped me. David just lives a charmed life…

When I was first allowed to be part of the group that gathered for our daily lessons at the synagogue, much like you do at school, I tried to be like my big brother. I just seemed to have so much more energy than everyone else does. In my world, I was a misfit. I wanted to run and play long after everyone else was tired. Our teacher expected me to be easy-going, hardworking, quiet, responsible like David – my homework always neatly done, able to answer every question. I couldn’t fulfill those expectations. No matter how hard I tried, my work was always a mess. I couldn’t stay focused. An ant would suddenly appear on the table. Lost in the ant’s struggle to climb up the side of a dish, the classroom would disappear from my mind. Always my teacher’s voice would penetrate my thoughts, “Kane, you’re not listening! Can’t you pay attention?” I’d shrink down into my chair. I had failed again. Finally, I gave up. I couldn’t be David. I had to be me. The trouble was that I sure didn’t like me, and neither did anyone else. Gradually I became “the bad boy”.

That’s enough about me. Now it’s time to tell you about the day I met Jesus. I was playing at my friend Jacob’s house…