Once upon a time (most children stories start that way).
There was a wonderful teacher who walked through the land helping little children.
He was a very gentle soul who often appeared when children least expected him.
He told the most beautiful stories which gave marvelous history lessons.
But also his stories helped them understand this big old world around them.
Sometimes when they were sad, confused or afraid. He was there to make the shadows
disappear. Now shadows are normal things that every little child sometimes feels,
but always there are people to love them and make them know that the world is a safe
and peaceful place. Usually these people are Mommy's and Daddy's but when Mommy's
and daddy's are working or going to school, the helping people are teachers,
policemen, ministers, babysitters and so many more.
But some children are so lucky because their grandparents live close and these are often
the most wonderful people in the world.
Once very long ago there was a little child who did not understand why her skin
was so much darker than all her friends. She was sitting alone and feeling very sad.
It was one of those times when all the grown-ups seemed to be busy with daily living
A little cloud above started to weep big tears because he felt sorry for the child.
The wind was watching and tried to chase the shadows of fear and loneliness away.
He was not having any luck. A little blue bird flew by and rested on the branch of a
tree where the child sat. Understanding that none of her friends could help the bird flew up in the sky
and began to sing a message to the Lord.
Quick as a flash Jesus appeared and sat with the little child. In a very soft and caring
voice he asked her "Shall we take a walk and I will explain to you what our father did
in coloring the world." "Okay" said the little child. She took his hand and they began
to walk down the soft dirt lane.
Jesus pointed out that the world was filled with beauty. The trees, grass, and bushes
were so green. The flowers were all different colors red, yellow, blue, purple
every color of the rainbow. They looked in the sky and it was blue with puffy little clouds.
After the rains there always appeared a rainbow.
Jesus explained, "Now with all this beauty and color, God decided that even some
of his people on earth should have this too. So He gave the sun a chore to shine brighter
in some places of the world. So, Mr. Sun took this as his duty to beautify Gods people,
and he did a marvelous job. He started a thing called tanning and if you look at all the
shades in a tan you can see yellow, red and brown. Sometimes some people get stuck in
their own personal, particular shade. In the eyes of God we are all beautiful and perfect."
"Do you understand now Jackie, why your skin is a little darker?
Just remember the Lord made you as you are, and besides it is not what you look
like (though you are beautiful,) it's what is inside that counts. You are kind, generous,
loving, obedient, and ambitious.”
Jackie’s little walk with Jesus, taught her a big lesson.
No longer did she worry about trivial things but decided to spend more time trying
to make a difference in this world. True, for a child that is difficult
but she had her special friend Jesus and she would check with him every night
when she said her prayers to see how she was doing.
|
© Carol G Oliver
|
|
|
