Dear Boys and Girls,
Today I’m going to tell you about Star, a beautiful Siberian husky dog. She has a good home and a loving owner, but somehow she got lost. Here’s the story:
It was 8:30 at night, and Crystal, her owner, needed to go to the store before it closed at 9:00. Star was outside at the time. Being in a hurry, Crystal forgot to put Star in the house. When she returned from the store, Star was gone! Crystal searched everywhere, made phone calls, but no one had seen Star.
Maybe you children have heard of the one lost sheep that we read about in the Bible in Luke 15:4-74What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:4‑7). The shepherd had 100 sheep, and 99 of them were safe at home, but one was missing. So the shepherd went looking for that lost sheep, and he looked and looked until he found it. Then he carefully picked it up and placed it on his shoulders and carried it safely home. He called his friends and neighbors and told them, “Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost” (vs. 7). And that’s what Jesus wants to do for you.
Now Star wasn’t lost like that sheep; she was actually trapped and couldn’t get home. Somehow, she had wandered down to the canal where big boats pass through in the summer. But since it was cold weather, the water in the canal was frozen over. This canal also has eight-foot-high cement walls, which were way too high for Star to jump up to the top. So Star just wandered around, looking for a way to get out.
About 7:30 that next morning, someone saw Star down on the ice in the canal and saw that the dog running back and forth and barking needed help. That person called the fire department to see if they could help the trapped dog. They quickly sent their rescue unit.
Firefighters put ladders down on both sides of the canal, and one firefighter, tethered by a rope, dropped down onto the ice and tried to lure Star with treats. But being a stranger, Star was afraid of him and ran along the canal walls, again searching for a way to escape.
Each one of us has been lost in our sins with no way to help ourselves, just like Star couldn’t help herself. God our Father saw that we were hopelessly lost in our sins. Because He loves us so much, He sent His Son Jesus to save us: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). By believing that Jesus paid for your sins on the cross, you can be rescued from your sins. This is God’s good news that we want you to know and believe.
Reports of Star’s problem were announced by radio, TV and the Internet. Someone who recognized Star in the news broadcast called Crystal. She immediately drove to the canal. She only called Star’s name once, and the dog’s response was instant! She recognized Crystal immediately. Using a rope ladder, Crystal climbed down, and quickly Star and Crystal were happily reunited! Crystal climbed back up the ladder, and Star was lifted up in a basket. What a happy ending for both Crystal and Star.
Boys and girls, and grown-ups too, we want each of you to have a happy ending for your life here on earth. If you have accepted Jesus as your very own Saviour, your sins are gone and you are promised a home in heaven. What a happy ending with Jesus waits for you when your time here on earth is over.
We love you very much,
Grampa and Gramma
ML-11/22/2015