You are never too young to share

 

Randy lived in a small neighbourhood with his mum, dad and sister called Nicole.  They had two dogs, a turtle and a cat.  Randy was eight years old and Nicole was ten.  They attended the local church and went to school about thirty miles away from home.

 

Randy and his sister were very obedient children.  They loved attending church and school.  Randy learnt to play the drums at school while Nicole played the triangle and she enjoyed singing and dancing.  They often did musical items together on special occasions both at church and school.  

 

It was Christmas time and as usual the kids were getting ready for their yearly Christmas production.  All the children were excited including Randy and his sister.  They anticipated each Christmas production because they knew that was another opportunity to share with their non-Christian friends about the love of God and the reason why he came.  

 

Randy especially would be the first to ask his mum and dad to get his Christmas cards so he could write his personal note about the real reason for the season.  He was a little missionary in his own little way.

 

Mum came in from work and Randy greeted her with a kiss.  Then he said, “Mum have you bought the cards?”

 

“Oh dear, you’ll never guess what happened today son”

 

“What happened….mmmmm….you forgot to buy them again?”

 

“No, I did remember however I left them on my desk.”

 

“OH MUM!!!!”

 

“ I won’t forget them tomorrow son I promise.  You still have three weeks to go before school closes.”

 

“Ok then”

 

Randy ran outside to play with his friends.  He was still a bit disappointed about his mum forgetting the cards however, he understood.  While outside playing he began talking to his friends about his Christmas production.  His friends were not Christians and Randy thought it would be a very good idea to invite them to the play.  They listened while Randy spoke with enthusiasm about how wonderful and fantastic this play was going to be.  The boys all listened and when it was time to depart to their various homes they promised that they would attend.

 

Randy ran inside and he shouted, “MUM, MUM the boys will be coming to see the play!!!!”

 

“Really, that’s good. I can see you’re really excited.  I can’t wait to see what the play will be about this year.”

 

“I won’t be telling you, it’s a surprise.  You and dad will just have to wait and see. It’s gonna be great.”

 

Just then dad and Nicole walked through the door.  “You’ll never guess what guys”

 

“What, you’re getting a Wii for Christmas?” dad responded.

 

“You’ve learnt how to ride the bike without the balance wheels?” asked Nicole

 

“NO, I’ve invited my friends to the school play and they have promised to come.”

 

“Ok, whatever” Nicole remarked.

 

The family sat down for dinner.  Afterwards the kids went off to do their homework and then there was just enough time for a few more leisure activities before bed.

 

The next morning the family got up.  They gathered for their morning devotion.  In devotion the children prayed for the success of their school play and that their friends and loved ones would all attend.

 

They got dressed for school and said their good-byes.  On the journey to school they spoke about who they were going to invite and who they had already invited.  They spoke with the other children and asked whether they were planning to invite friends and family.  They got very mixed responses.

 

While at school during playtime Randy told his friends about all his neighbours that would be attending the production. “You are way too excited man.”

“Yeah, it’s only the school play.”

“It’s not as grand as the Jack and the Beanstalk production,” another child said.

Randy was a bit disappointed that his friends weren’t as excited as he was.  However he knew that it was a great opportunity to witness to his friends and family.  

 

The day went by very quickly and soon it was time to go home.  The children boarded the bus and in a little over an hour they were home. Randy ran into the house.  “Good evening mum, how was your day?”

 

“It was great.”

 

“And how was yours Nicole?”

 

“Well, it was ok. A few of the kids were silly as usual and the whole class got punished. I just can’t understand why the whole class had to miss playtime because of a few silly kids.”

 

“Well, sometimes things do happen that way.  We live in a world that is full of sin and as a result the good sometimes has to suffer for the bad.”

 

“Do you understand what I mean by the good suffering for the bad?”

 

“Yes mum, it’s like….mmmmmm…..  Jesus dying on the cross to save us from sin.  He didn’t do anything wrong.”

 

“Oh mum did you remember the cards?”

 

“Yes, they’re on the table in a blue plastic bag.”

 

“Thank you mum you’re the best.”

 

“You’re welcome son.”  Randy ran to get his card and immediately he began to write the names of all the children in his class.  He carefully wrote his messages asking his sister and mum to help with any words he couldn’t spell.  

 

“Aren’t you going out to play?” mum asked.

 

“No I need to get these cards done for tomorrow”

 

By the time Randy had completed writing the cards it was dinnertime.

 

The next morning while on the bus Randy gave out a few of the cards to his classmates.  On arrival at school he ran around giving the cards to the rest of his class.  Everyone was very happy that they were given a card.  Some of the children commented on the message inside and the picture on the front which showed baby Jesus in the manger with his parents, the sheep, all the other animals and the wise men.

 

During playtime Randy thought it was a good idea to invite a few of his best friends to church over the Christmas holidays.  He told them of the exciting things they did at his church, the time and the place.

 

On arrival from school Randy told his sister about his day.  “Nicole who are you inviting to church from school this year?”

 

“I’ve invited Stacey, Roxanna, Nicola, Tenisha and a few others.”

 

“Did you tell them about some of the things we do?”

 

“Yes, I did and they’ve promised that they will ask their parents and let me know.”

 

The days went by very quickly and soon it was time for the school production.  In the crowd Randy and Nicole could see a few of their family members and friends.  They were very pleased.  The production began with a bang with the school choir singing “Joy to the world” to the melody from Sister Act 2.  The audience sang and danced along.  At the end of the song there was a standing ovation.  

 

The rest of the play got similar responses from the audience all the way through.  The children were full of life, very dramatic and outspoken.  Their costumes were fantastic.  The array of colours and designs created a lovely touch.  

 

At the end of what was a great evening the children were united with their family and friends.  “You guys were great” were the comments that they received from everyone.

 

“The singing, oh my days….that was even better than JLS.”

 

“Yes, it was…the harmony, the dancing, everyone was in tune.”

 

“Do you guys have this every year?” Paul asked.

 

“Yes, we do,” replied Nicole. “The school has a Christmas production every year however the title never remains the same.”

 

“I can’t wait for next year’s.”

“Me too.”

 

“I’m asking my mum and dad from now,” Joanna said.

 

The children were very pleased with the responses that they received from everyone who attended.  They were happy that a lot of people got to hear the true reason why the world celebrates Christmas.  

 

The next day at school was like no other.  The children were still excited about the evening before.  The adults were very proud of the school’s performance and the responses they received from family, parents and friends.  As a reward the whole school was given an extra hour of lunchtime play.  

 

Nicole and Randy took this time to remind their friends about attending church over the Christmas holiday period.  

 

The holidays arrived and it was the first Sabbath of the season. “I wonder if any of my friends will make it to church today,” Nicole said aloud.

 

“Me too, the boys promised that they would come this Sabbath and maybe next week as well.”

 

“Well, we’ve just got to wait and see.”

 

“Yeah, I guess.”

 

The family got ready for church and soon they were on their way. The discussion in the car was about whether or not their friends would come to church.

They arrived at church and when it was time to hear a Bible story the kids went to their classes.  As customary there was a welcome towards the end of Adult Sabbath School.  The person in charge for that week asked for all the visitors to stand.  The visitors stood and amongst the visitors both Randy and Nicole could see a few of their friends from school.  They were all seated together.  The kids quickly raised their hands and introduced their visitors.  They were very pleased to have their friends worshipping with them for the first time.   After the welcome, they both went and sat with their friends.  

 

At the end of the service mum and dad took all of the children home for Sabbath lunch.  The children had never experienced anything like this before.  Roxanna remarked, “It’s lovely that you guys eat together.  We hardly do, mum and dad are hardly ever home at the same time and when they are they’re too busy.”  

 

After dinner they watched a variety of Christian programs from cartoons, to music videos. They had desert while watching TV and soon it was time to go.  The children were very happy that they came. They expressed their thanks to Randy and Nicole for inviting them and they promised to come again.

 

The children began coming on a regular basis and on special occasions their parents would attend as well.  This was the prayer of Randy and Nicole,

 

“Dear Jesus, thank you Lord for the love that you have given to us.  Thank you for giving us the enthusiasm to tell others more about your love.  Please help us to continue to share that great love that you gave us with others so they might come to know you as well.  Please help our friends to continue attending church and they may tell their parents and friends about your love too.  Please help us never to be ashamed of you. Amen.”

 

 

By Michelle

 

 

 

 

 

Quiz Time

 

Section 1

 

1. What were the names of the two children?
2. Where did they live?
3. How old were they?
4. How many pets did they have?
5. Did they have a religion?
6. What talents or hobbies did they have?
7. What class were they in at school?
8. Were they friendly children?
9. What time of the year was it?
10. What happens at this time of the year?
11. Do you enjoy this time of the year and why?
12. What do you do?
13. Why did Randy love this special season?
14. Who did Nicole invite to the church?
15. What did her friends enjoy about the whole experience?
16. What was Roxanna’s remark?
17. How do we know the children had a good time?
18. What did they have to eat after dinner?
19. What did they do while at the house?
20. What did the children do after they left the house on that day?

 

Section 2

 

Complete this section of the quiz with a friend and see who completes the activity the quickest and with the most correct answers.  You view the story on the screen or print it out so you both have a copy to work from.

 

1. How many words beginning with the letter R can you find?
2. How many words can you list rhyming with Randy?
3. How many animals can you name beginning with the letter S?
4. What is the total of the Randy’s and Nicole’s age?
5. Do you know the day of the week that Sabbath falls on?
6. How many words can you spell using the letters in the word enthusiasm?
7. Can you find the word in the story that rhymes with enthusiastic?
8. How many times are the words mum and dad mentioned?

 

 

Section 3

 

• Draw or paint a picture of Randy and his family.
• Next draw or paint the family’s pets.
• Draw or paint a picture of what you think their house might look like.
• Draw or paint a picture of the children in the playground
• Draw or paint a picture of some of the things you received for Christmas or what you might like to receive this year
• Draw or paint a picture of your favourite section of the story
• Make a card for your best friend and write a message inside about how much they mean to you.
• Make a card and give it to a friend that does not know Jesus, inviting them to church.