As Andrew
peered carefully over the tall enclosure, he caught sight of a young girl
tending to her garden. Andrew dropped below the ledge of the wall and caught
his breath. For all these twelve times around the sun, he thought he was alone.
He knew there were older people, and although he had imagined it, he had never
before seen anyone close to his age. All his training was done one on one, with
an adult. His weekly provisions and supplies were delivered by adults.
Andrew
wanted to linger and call out to the child, but as he gazed at his timepiece,
he knew his time was limited. Now his quest was simply to see if there were any
more children. He descended the wall and
make careful work to move as quickly and efficiently as he could through the
tight, narrow path. Again, he came to a small opening and another wall. He
found a tree near this wall and climbed it high enough to be able to peer over
this newest wall. He saw a small boy this time, young. This child was somberly
weeping on the step of his cottage. As he heard stirrings by the walls around
him, he picked up his small tool, wiped his tears with the back of his hand and
went back to pulling up the weeds by his garden. He didn’t want to be found
idle and in tears.
Andrew
dropped to his knees, panting. He gazed at his time piece, 4:35. He had to
hurry in order to not be caught. As his body became accustomed to the narrow
fit of the path, he made good time getting back to his own wall. Breathlessly,
as he dropped to the ground of his own place, he shot a glance at his
timepiece, 4:55. He made it; now to catch his breath and be at the ready for
his delivery. As soon as someone knocked, it was expected that you be ready to
open the door to receive your provisions. The deliverer made careful note of
that. Andrew nonchalantly received his supplies and closed the door.
As Andrew
put his supplies and provisions away, his mind was racing with all that he had
seen. When he finished his work, he grabbed his notebook and pen. He had plans
brewing in his mind and he wanted to make notes.
Family
Connection
What do you
imagine are some of Andrew’s thoughts, after having seen TWO children in his
exploration?
If YOU were
to write the story, what would we see in Andrew’s notebook? What plans do you
think he’s making? (I would love to hear your children’s ideas! Who knows, it
could make it into the story!)
Young Andrew
has spent most of his life alone, but God’s Word tells us we are meant to be in
community. Read Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 (many
parts make up the one body)Proverbs 27:17, and John 13:34-35 (love one another)
and discuss as a family. What are some of the purposes of community? Where do
you have community? What do you think he wants YOUR communities to look like?
(Please share any ideas you have, that would contribute to the health and
richness of Firebrand Academy. No idea is too small.)
Keep working
on your Quiet Time Challenge.
Possible
verses to memorize: Mark
16:15, Gen 1:27, Ps 139:14, Eph 2:10
Journal
Ideas:
Our identity
needs to be in Jesus, and not in the world, what other people say about us or
even in what we think about ourselves (specifically in all those negative
thoughts). Who does Jesus say we are? In a few weeks, we will learn to hear
what God says about each of us specifically. In the meantime, who does God say
you are – from the Bible? Your family may be able to help you with some of
these or do a search… Write or draw in your journal. (Younger ones may be able
to draw a pic of themselves with two sides – one with what the enemy says, one
with what God says. Older ones can do this too!)
Read a story
about Jesus from the Gospels (or from your Storybook Bible). What does the
story tell you about who Jesus is (His character)? (He is healer, He provides,
He holds peace, He sees…). Draw or write about it in your journal. You could do
this multiple days.
