Children

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There once was a girl named Faith who was actually very cautious. She lived with her family along the shore of a lake called Gospel. Faith was a perfectionist. Her closet was always tidy and orderly. Her room was perfectly decorated. She did not like it when things were cluttery and messy. She did not like things that were out of order. It also annoyed Faith that her father called her "Little Faith" as she thought she was very mature and tall.

One calm summer day Faith went alone on her father's fishing boat. She rowed just a little bit off from the shore. This was unusual for her, but she reasoned "Because the lake is so peaceful now and because the sky is so blue now, I will be safe."

In the middle of the lake was an island called Dream. Faith had heard of people who had stepped onto that island, but she never had. The stories she heard were good, but they usually were messy and sometimes scarey. So Faith avoided going anywhere near the island.

Out on the lake Faith grew tired. Again she reasoned: "Because the lake is so tranquil and because there sky is cloudless, I have nothing to worry about and can take a quick cat nap."

Soon Faith felt herself tossed from side to side in the small boat on the big lake. She woke up to see nothing but blackness. She couldn't even see her own hand. Faith screamed to her father for help, but the wind screamed louder. It seemed like she would surely drown so Faith clung to the side of the boat. But the boat tossed her on her back where laid there totally helpless. Just then, Faith felt a hand grab a hold of her hand. She did not recognize the hand, but it seemed to have a hole in the center of it. Other than that it felt strong and secure like an anchor. The strength of it's grip soothed her heart to rest in the middle of that cold, dark storm.

Then she heard a familiar sound. It was the footsteps of her father upon the slab of rock near the shore of her home. Then she saw a light drawing near to her. The closer it got, the more clearly she could see it was a lantern. Her father was holding it and running towards her.

The strong hand lifted her out of the boat into the arms of her father. Faith cried "I was saved by that man with the hole in his hand." Her father said "I'm glad you finally believe in my son. I will no longer call you Little Faith. I will now call you True Faith."

And from that day on, no matter what the weather was like, Faith would row her father's fishing boat to Dream Island upon the waves of Gospel lake. And sometimes you could hear her scream, but it was more of like a roller coaster type of scream.

Honey Stone (C) 2007

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