“HELLO LORD.  THIS IS YOUR FRIEND JAMES SPEAKING”

Robocopters and Pink Pumps

Hello Lord

This is your friend James speaking. I wanted to ask you about money. You see there’s this boy in my class called Peter and he has a Robocopter. Now he said that I can’t play with them unless I have a Robocopter too. I asked mom and she said, No.

So it’s up to you Lord. What’s it going to be? Do I get a Robocopter or not? I think it would be a very small thing for you to do seeing as you made stars and planets and the whole universe. Mom says it’s just a craze and the next thing will be yo-yos. Well, I don’t have a yo-yo either. Mine broke. So you might want to think about that one.

Oh and another thing. Please don’t let mom buy me any more clothing and say it’s a present. Clothing just can never be a present. Clothing isn’t a toy. Please help mom to see this clearly.

Thank you and Amen.

“HELLO LORD,

THIS IS YOUR FRIEND JAMES SPEAKING”

The Problem With Paul

Hello Lord,

This is your friend James speaking. I have to talk to you about a guy in my class called Paul. He is very irritating. He is always pushing other kids around. So I think you should do something about him - nothing serious like in the Old Testament days. I know you can destroy a whole city with lightning bolts and you made a whale swallow a guy. But maybe you could make Paul go to another school or stop his pocket money.

Thanks and Amen.

Secret Treasures

Anthony remembered watching his grandfather painting. There was the smell of oil paints and thinners and the sounds of the brush swishing and grandfather humming. Grandfather used a wooden box to store his paints. Anthony loved the squishy tubes and bright colours.

When his grandfather died, the box and an old painting were given to Anthony with a note that said, “You will know what to do with these.”

“What old junk!” Anthony’s brother said scornfully.

Anthony ran upstairs and banged the door to his room. He gripped the box and painting tightly while hot tears ran down his cheeks.

His mom came in and hugged him.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “Your brother is going through a difficult stage.”

“Mom, I need a hammer,” Anthony said.

“What for?” his mom asked suspiciously.

“To hang the picture,” Anthony said.

Then they both looked at each other and smiled.

He was banging a hook into his wall when part of the plaster fell away. He found that one of the bricks underneath was loose and carefully he edged it out.

“Perfect,” he said and slid the wooden box into the space left by the brick.

He banged another nail into the wall and hung the painting over the hole. This way, mom would not get upset, and he had a secret hiding place.

Sweethearts

In the window of a cake shop was the most beautiful display of wedding cakes. The centrepiece was a five-tiered cake with an old-fashioned bride and groom, who looked as though they were about to step into a dance. Every night, the Master Sugar Chef covered them with a special glass case.

But one night he forgot. It was spring and everyone had fallen in love and wanted to get married immediately. The Master Sugar Chef locked up his shop and dashed home to prepare his ingredients.

When the clock chimed twelve o’clock, all the little brides and grooms on the wedding cakes came to life.

“Look at that,” one groom said, “The master forgot his little angels.”

On top of the five-tiered wedding cake the old-fashioned groom said, “My dear, you look beautiful this evening,” as he usually did and she replied, “You look so handsome, my love,” as she usually did and they exchanged a sweet kiss.

Then they realized that their glass prison was gone!