Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: It's a Colorful World (12/03/09)
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TITLE: Beth Reads The Colors | Previous Challenge Entry
By RuthAnn Cornelson
12/10/09 -
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“Come on Angie. Sit on my knee for a little bit. Please?” Big blue eyes looked up at Beth, hesitancy clouding their usual sparkle. But slowly the squirming stopped and with a sweet smile the little body relaxed against her.
Beth pulled her daughter close, resting her chin on the soft blonde hair. She treasured the moment, knowing such times would come less, and then less, frequently. Before the squirming started again, she tickled the girl who jumped and giggled.
Beth waited until the giggling stopped, then said, “I want to show you something I found in a box up in the attic when I was looking for Christmas decorations.”
Angie sat up and turned to face her mother, eyes curious, “What is it Mommy?”
“Something I made in Sunday School when I was six like you.”
Beth reached into her pocket and pulled out a little book. The cover was black construction paper, faded and blotched gray in places. The edges were rough and uneven. It was raggedy but Beth smiled as if she’d just found a hidden treasure.
“What is it?” Angie asked again, puzzled at her mother’s excitement over the ugly paper.
Beth ruffled through the six colored pages, each one a little brighter, protected by its predecessor from the dust of past years. “It’s a little book. Here, have a look at it.” She held it out to the little girl.
Angie took it, turning the pages one by one. “There aren’t even any pictures or words in it.” Her face was serious, disappointed. “It doesn’t say anything, Mommy. What good’s a book that doesn’t say anything?”
Beth smiled, looking into the big blue eyes that were fixed on her face, waiting for an explanation.
“But it does say something, Sweetie,” Beth told her. “It’s a wordless book, but it says a lot. Do you want me to read it to you?”
Angie shrugged, “Sure, I guess. Here.” She handed the book back to her mother. Her tone said that she still didn’t believe the book said anything but she’d listen anyway so her mom wouldn’t feel bad.
Beth took the book and started, “OK. The cover of the book is black. Black stands for sin. Everyone in the world has sinned. Sin stains a heart black. No one can ever make it clean.” The little figure sat still, silent.
Beth turned the page. “This page is red. Red reminds us of the blood Jesus shed on the cross to take away our sin.”
She heard a little sound of understanding, “Um hmm. I know that, Mom.”
“What color is the next page?” Beth asked. Angie reached out and turned the red paper over.
“Whiiite.” The word was stretched out. Angie’s forehead puckered as she tried to decipher what it might mean.
Beth explained, “When we ask Jesus into our heart His blood takes away our sin and washes us as white as snow.”
Angie looked up, a happy smile on her small face. “I already did that, Mommy.”
“I know, Sweetie.” Beth hugged the little girl beside her, thanking God in her heart.
Angie quickly turned the next page. “What’s blue for?” Her voice was excited, anxious for the answer.
“Blue is for water, for baptism. Remember when Kaylie got baptized?” Beth thought of the joy she’d felt as she watched her older daughter step into the water.
Angie nodded and Beth turned the page revealing green. “Green reminds us that we will live forever after Jesus comes into our hearts. Like an evergreen tree that never turns brown. Our Christmas tree reminds us of that too.”
The last page was gold. Before Beth said anything, Angie exclaimed, “I know! Gold is for heaven.”
“You’re right!” Beth praised, closing the book. “Heaven is where we’ll live forever with Jesus. That’s it, the wordless book.”
“Wow. It does say a lot,” the little girl said in amazement.
“Christmas lights are like a wordless story too,” Beth said. “They remind us of everything Jesus did when He was born. In fact, whenever we see these colors in the world around us they can remind us – black night, red flowers, white snow, blue sky, green grass, and gold sunshine.”
Angie held the book against her, “Can I keep it, Mommy?”
“Sure, Sweetie, read the colors to someone else sometime.”
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