This is a children's story I wrote to share with our Missions Kids. I hope your little one enjoys it.
Abdalla knew
that her name meant servant of God. She felt pretty special when she learned
what her name meant. Abdalla loved God with all her heart. Her Mama taught her
about Jesus when she was very little and now she was a big girl of nearly eight
years old.
Abdalla was
excited because today was the first day of school. Teacher told her that she
would be sitting on the second bench with the other grade two students and she
couldn’t wait. But that was many hours away. First she had her chores to do.
It was still
dark outside but she knew that she had to walk to the watering hole to get the
family’s water for the day. Usually Mama would go with her but today Mama had
to stay with her new baby sister and cook breakfast for the family. In Kenya,
girls had to carry water. Her brothers were already in the fields tending the
family’s goats.
Abdalla was
so glad she wasn’t a boy. The bleating of the goats attracted lions and
leopards and even cheetahs. They were really scary! It was still scary having
to get the water every morning and every evening but not as scary as she
imagined it would be if she had goats with her attracting big cats.
Mama gave
her the big water jug and kissed her on her forehead. She told her not to be
afraid. “Remember, Abdalla, God tells us to be strong and courageous.” She knew
Joshua 1:9 well. Every time she was afraid she would repeat it to herself and
God always made her feel better.
There was a
pathway through the tall grass that lead to the watering hole. As Abdalla
walked she tried not to brush against the grass. She didn’t want the sound to
carry and some big animal to come after her. Quiet as a mouse she walked, alone
and in the dark, with only the stars overhead and the moon to light her path.
As she
approached the watering hole she heard two elephants having their morning bath.
She’d have to wait until they were finished before she could approach the
watering hole. Abdalla loved elephants. God had made them so big and wrinkly. Their
beautiful black eyes had long eyelashes and their mouths always made them look
like they were smiling under their long trunk. But Abdalla knew they were still
wild animals and she shouldn’t go near them.
After a
little while the elephants moved off through the grass. Abdalla checked but
couldn’t see any other animals around the water so she carefully lowered her
jug into the water. It didn’t take long for it to fill to the top. She put the
top back on and tried to lift the jug to her shoulder like Mama always did, but
it was too heavy! She couldn’t lift it that high.
Oh, what was
she going to do? Her family needed the water badly. She just had to get it back
somehow. Abdalla remembered Mama telling her “Abdalla if you are in trouble or
you don’t know what to do, ask God to help you and He will.” So Abdalla sat
down on top of the jug and bowed her head and prayed. “Dear God, please help
me. I’m so little and I’m not strong enough to lift this heavy jug. I need your
help. Amen.”
After Abdalla
finished saying her prayer a Bible verse came into her mind right away: “I can
do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. She had
learned that in Sunday School. Suddenly Abdalla looked down and there was a
huge dragon tree leaf. It was a thick, leathery leaf that was almost three feet
long. That’s just the thing she needed!
Abdalla
excitedly lifted her jug onto this huge leaf and used it as a wagon for her
water. She pulled the leaf and it glided smoothly along the well-worn path. And
what was even better, it hardly made a sound.
By the time
Abdalla arrived home, the sun was coming up. It would soon be time for school. Abdalla
ran into the house, excited to tell Mama how God had helped her so much already
this day. He helped make her brave when she remembered Joshua 1:9 “Be strong
and courageous” and He helped her when she couldn’t lift the jug and she
remembered Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me.” And He even gave her a dragon tree leaf to use as a wagon.
Mama was so
proud of Abdalla because she trusted in God and knew His Word. These were the
best things in the world for a Mama to be proud of.
Post a Comment