Hi Boys & Girls! Welcome to the Campfire!

Christy, our daughter, lives in Alaska. She works in a big, tall building by the ocean. One day a pair of seagulls built a nest where she could see it. They laid three little eggs in the nest.

When the eggs hatched, Christy watched the babies grow up. One day, the biggest baby seagull tried to pull himself up out of the nesting area. He stood on the edge of the nest and flapped his wings. He jumped and fluttered down to a near-by roof. The seagull parents were so happy! They tried to get the other two babies to fly, too.

But the smaller babies wanted to stay in the nest. They talked to each other and decided not to fly. The mama and daddy seagulls flew around them, scolding and saying, “Come on! Come on!”

Finally, one of the babies climbed up on the edge of the nest. He looked down. Oooooh! What a long way to the ground! He turned around and started chattering to the other baby. “NO WAY am I going to jump off this nest!” he chirped.

The mama and daddy seagulls screeched at him and made him get back into the nest before he fell backward! The baby seagull cuddled down next to the other baby and didn’t move. “Come on! Come on!” cried the parents.

“NO!” he chirped and closed his eyes.

The next day, the mama and daddy seagulls scolded the babies in the nest until they obeyed. Do you think they were scared to jump off that building? I think they were! But they finally got brave enough to try. Now all the baby seagulls are flying outside Christy’s window. They fly down to the water and catch clams for breakfast. They can go everywhere their parents go.

Growing up means we have to learn to do new things. Even Jesus had to grow up! “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” (Luke 2:52, New Living Translation)

How do we grow in wisdom? The Bible says, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” (Proverbs 9:10, New Living Translation) When we deeply respect God and learn all we can about him, and talk to him in prayer, we grow wise as we grow tall, like Jesus did.

Until the next campfire, I’m sending you . . .

Hugs & kisses,

Montana Gramma

Hi Boys & Girls! Welcome to the Campfire!

Corky and Louise were ground squirrels that once lived by our house. Corky followed Papa Tim around all over the place. If Papa was working on his truck, Corky watched every move. If Papa walked into the garage, Corky followed him, just like a little dog!

Every morning, Louise would come up onto the deck and eat my petunias. They were her favorite food of all. But I didn’t buy flowers so she could eat them! So I moved them where they would hang over her head. Louise would stand below the deck and look longingly at the petunias with a sad face. I could tell she wanted some, and I was willing to share a few.

I picked one petunia and dropped it off the deck. It floated down toward Louise like a parachute. She reached her tiny paws up, grabbed it and stuffed it into her mouth. I dropped another one, and Louise ran over to catch it, too. Every morning, I dropped a few petunia blossoms down to Louise and she would catch and eat them. I liked feeding her!

Did you know that God provides food for us, like I provided food for Louise? Yes! He tells us to ask him for food when we are hungry. When we love God and obey him — when we give our hearts to Jesus, God the Son — then God the Father takes care of us, for we become his children. He is a good, good Father! He watches over us and gently leads us and feeds us.

Jesus said, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows your needs. Seek first the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:26, 31-33, New Living Translation)

What a great promise!

I’ll see you at the next Campfire!

Hugs & kisses,

Montana Gramma