Bible Reading: John 20:24-29

It was Grandparents' Day at Finley's school, and the kids were taking turns introducing their grandparents to the class. When it was Finley's turn, he went forward and proudly introduced his grandparents.

"Grandma and Grandpa Smith are visiting from Arizona," he said. "They like to travel, and they're going to take me to the Grand Canyon the next time I visit." Finley turned to his other grandmother. "Grandma Peters lives here, so I see her a lot. She's teaching me how to play the piano, and she always makes me laugh."

Then Finley held up a picture for everyone to see. "This is my other grandpa. He's not here today because he's in heaven. He went there before I was born, so I never saw him. But I feel like I know him because Dad and Mom and Grandma tell me all about him. He was always helping people, and he was a great baseball pitcher." Finley smiled and returned to his seat beside his grandparents.

That evening Finley told his mom and dad about Grandparents' Day. "I'm glad you tell me about Grandpa Peters and how he was always kind and loved to help people," Finley said. "I feel like I love him even though I've never seen him."

Dad smiled. "I love someone I've never seen too," he said. "Do you know who that is?"

Finley looked uncertain for a moment, then smiled. "I think you mean Jesus," he said. "I love Jesus too. So do Mom and all my grandparents."

"Yes, we do," said Mom. "You love Grandpa Peters because we tell you how good and kind he was. Why do you love Jesus?"

"Well, the Bible tells me how good He is," replied Finley. "He loves me too! And He gives me lots of good things--you and Dad and my friends and everything I need. Best of all, He died for me, and He's always with me--I can talk to Him anytime."

"That's exactly right, Finley," said Dad. "We love Jesus even though we've never seen Him--but someday we will see Him, won't we?"

"Yep!" Finley grinned. "Just like Grandpa Peters is seeing Him in heaven now!"

–Teresa M. Beverly

Bible Reading: Matthew 10:16-20; John 14:15-17, 25-27

Joy took a deep breath of the fresh afternoon air. Her older brother paused now and then to examine a tree or check out animal prints. Living near the woods was nice because you could take a nature walk whenever you wanted to.

Suddenly, the kids heard a menacing rattle. James flung his arm in front of Joy and stopped her from continuing down the trail. There, just a few feet from where they stood, was a large snake rattling its tail. When it rose to assume a striking position, Joy felt her mouth dry instantly with fear.

"Stay still and quiet," James whispered. A few seconds later, he laughed. "Notice anything about that snake, Joy?"

"It's blue," Joy whispered, confused. "So, it's not a rattlesnake?" Michigan had only one kind of venomous snake, the Massasauga rattlesnake. Because of where they lived, Mom ensured they knew all about it.

"Nope, I'm pretty sure it's a blue racer," said James. "See how there's no rattle on its tail?"

The snake lowered its head and darted down the path away from them.

"Whoa, it's fast!" said Joy.

"That's why they're called blue racers!"

Joy was in awe. "Blue racers are wise to make us think they're rattlers. The way it shook its tail against the leaves sounded like the sound real rattlesnakes make!"

The siblings followed a gentle cooing sound around the next bend. Perched on a high tree branch was a grey bird. "That's a mourning dove," Joy noted. "I'd rather see birds than snakes!"

"Hey, sis, I just thought of something! Remember that verse in Matthew Mom was talking to us about last week?"

"The one about snakes and doves…" Joy gasped. "That verse said, 'Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.'"

James nodded. "Jesus wanted His disciples to spread the good news of how He came to save us. He warned them that some people would not want to accept their message, so they had to be wise about how they shared it--in both their words and their actions," James recalled. "Like them, we need to trust God to help us share His love and truth with wisdom and innocence."

–Savannah Coleman

Bible Reading: Daniel 6:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"What beautiful zucchini!" Mom said as she and Alex walked in their garden. "It's amazing how God makes all kinds of wonderful food grow for us, isn't it? He's so good!"

Alex smiled and nodded, then looked down as his phone buzzed with a text message. "Nicholas's sister Joceyln is driving him to that new burger place down the road, and he invited me to go with them," he said. "Can I go?" Mom agreed, so Alex hurried off to join his friends.

When they sat down at the restaurant with their food, Alex remembered his mom's words. If zucchini was something to be thankful for, burgers were blessings for sure!

I want to thank God for the food, Alex thought. He usually prayed before meals, but he hadn't known Nicholas and Joceyln very long and didn't know if they were Christians. Will they understand? he wondered.

Nicholas took a big bite of his hamburger, then looked at Alex. "Why aren't you eating?"

Alex hesitated as Joceyln came to the table with napkins, then sat down and unwrapped her sandwich. He waited to see if she would bow her head. When she didn't, Alex decided to ask about it, even though he was a bit nervous. "Um, do you mind if I pray? I just want to thank God for the good food He's given us."

To Alex's surprise, Nicholas and Joceyln both looked up from their burgers and smiled. "That would be great!" said Joceyln. "We completely forgot to do that." Then they all bowed their heads.

When they finished, Joceyln grinned at Alex. "I'm glad you reminded us to pray. It's good to talk to God throughout the day and thank Him for all He's given us--even burgers!"

"You made me think of Daniel in the Bible," said Nicholas. "He prayed to God even though the king said he'd be thrown into a lion's den if he did. He prayed during a scary time, but it's just as important to pray during good times too."

Joceyln nodded. "Jesus wants us to go to Him in all situations--to thank Him in good times and look to Him for help in times of trouble." She smiled. "And now, here's something else you can thank Him for--ice cream sundaes on me!"

–Margaret M. Primrose