WHEN IT HURTS S FOR TIME - Write2Ignite

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WHEN IT HURTS S FOR TIME - Write2Ignite
O BIG                    FOR
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WHEN IT HURTS S FOR TIME - Write2Ignite
WHEN IT HURTS S FOR TIME - Write2Ignite
BIG                       FOR
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TOO                        N IT HU
                                   RTS
                      WH E
             IME  S
     S FOR T
 DEVO

       Write2Ignite.com
     Tigerville, South Carolina
                 2018
WHEN IT HURTS S FOR TIME - Write2Ignite
Too Big for a Band-aid
Copyright © 2018, Write2Ignite.com

Permission is granted to use original materials from this collection, with
these stipulations:
•   acknowledgement “Used by permission of Write2Ignite.com” must
    accompany quoted material;
•   material is quoted accurately in discussions or debates, i.e., content
    and statements from these devotionals are not used out of context
    or otherwise altered to make the writer’s original story seem to
    communicate a meaning contrary to its intended message.

                                    iv
Contents

 Introduction						1
 A Good Protector • Grace Geide			               3
 After the Storm Deborah S. DeCiantis		          5
 Changed • Gail Wofford Cartee			                7
 Dad Moved • Mary Jane Cobble Downs		            9
 Good Answer • Darcy Hendrick			                 11
 Hope Through the Tears • Cindy Lynn Sawyer      13
 Sheltered • Cathy Biggerstaff				               15
 Singed but Not Broken • Grace Geide		           17
 Snowstorm Fears • Brenda Covert			              19
 The Worst Day Ever • Robyn Grage			             21
 How can I know God’s salvation and
    direction in my life?					23

 Introducción						25
 Un buen protector • Grace Geide			              27
 Después de la tormenta • Deborah S. DeCiantis   29
 Transformado • Gail Wofford Cartee			           31
 Papá se mudó • Mary Jane Cobble Downs		         33
 Buena respuesta • Darcy Hendrick			             35
 La esperanza a través
    de las lágrimes • Cindy Lynn Sawyer		        38

                         v
Amparados • Cathy Biggerstaff			               41
Chamuscada pero no quelerada • Grace Geide     43
Miedo a la Nevada • Brenda Covert			           45
El peor día de todos los tiempos • Robyn Grage 47
¿Como puedo saber cómo ser salvado y recibir
   la guianza de parte de Dios en mi vida?     49

Credits							51
Créditos							52
Bible Quotation Sources				53

                        vi
Introduction
    Write2Ignite Conference, a non-profit writers’ group for Christians
who write for young audiences, developed this set of devotionals for
children and young people who have gone through natural disasters
and other tragedies in their family or community.
    In the weeks, months, and years to come, both old and young
need encouragement and reminders about God’s love even when bad
circumstances come our way, whether tornadoes, hurricanes and
flooding, shootings, fires, injury, or sickness.
    The Bible includes many accounts of people who served God and
found Him faithful even when bad things happened in their lives. It
also presents the story of the original Creation and tells how evil first
came into the perfect world God had made. Even though we don’t live
in that original world today, we can still know God and enjoy the full
and beautiful life He offers to everyone who believes in Him.
    We invite you to read and share these devotionals, free of charge,
and to watch as God brings “beauty for ashes” (Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV) to
those areas and people recovering from loss and hard times. May His
blessing be on each one as you consider how God is using difficult
events to build faith, love, and community.

                                    1
A Good Protector
    by Grace Geide

      Mom sat on the bed, rubbing Josh’s back. “You haven’t left the
house all week, honey. The shooting happened weeks ago, across town.
It’s safe to go outside now. Let’s get some ice cream and talk about
this.”
    Josh shook his head.
    “I saw dead people on TV; they were lying on the ground. And
when we passed the school where the shooting happened, I saw bullet
holes in the front of the building. I’m afraid I’ll get shot if I leave
home.”
    Mom hugged Josh.
    “I know. I’m praying for you, and I’m here if you want to talk.”
    “Thanks, Mom.”
   Just then, a little white dog ran into the room, barking, and put his
paws on Josh’s legs. Josh smiled and rubbed the dog’s head.
    “I’d better let Max out.”
    Mom and Josh walked into the kitchen, and Max followed them.
Josh reached for the door, but suddenly Mom shook her head and
picked up Max.
     “Maybe we shouldn’t let Max outside. He could be hit by a car or
stolen. And remember how that big dog chased him?”
    Mom carried Max to his crate.
    “There’s danger even here in the house. He should stay in his crate
as much as possible.”
                                    3
Josh stared at Mom as she closed Max in his crate.
    “But Mom—Max needs to go outside. It’s good for him to run
around.”
    “I don’t know, Josh. He’s safer here.”
      “But what kind of life is that?” Josh protested. “I’ll watch Max, and
I’ll protect him if something goes wrong.”
    Mom smiled and opened the crate. Max bounded into the back
yard when she opened the kitchen door.
    Mom put her arm around Josh’s shoulder.
   “You’re right. Even though it can be dangerous outside, it’s good for
Max to play in the sun. He’s lucky to have a good owner like you. And
guess what? You have Someone amazing watching out for you too.”
    Josh watched Max run around the yard, chasing a butterfly.
    “God loves me more than I love Max, doesn’t He?”
    “Much more,” Mom said. “It’s natural to be scared, and it’s good to
be careful. But remember, God will protect you until it’s your time to
leave this earth.”

Do you feel afraid when you hear about shootings and other tragedies? Do
all you can to stay safe, but don’t worry about what might happen to you.
Remember that God is protecting you. When you feel fear rising in your
heart, ask God to help you trust in Him. He will never leave you.

Psalm 91:1-10
Verse 2: “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress: My God,
in him will I trust’” (NKJV).

Trust in God’s protection.

                                     4
After the Storm
    by Deborah S. DeCiantis

    “It’s still there!” Rosa clapped, running toward their house.
    She stopped short. Mud blocked the doorway. Her neighbor’s house
was missing windows and a huge section of roof.
    “Our street is ruined!” she wailed.
    Mama and Aunt Julia caught up, put their arms around her, and
cried together.
    Uncle Raul and Rosa’s cousins, Jorge and Pedro, brought the
wheelbarrow with tools and supplies. They immediately started
shoveling mud and separating rubbish into piles. Soon, they had
cleared a path into the house. Rosa smelled moldy upholstery and
spoiled food.
   Drying their tears, Mama and Aunt Julia put on work gloves,
handed Rosa hers, and began collecting dishes and pots. As they
worked, her aunt softly sang Chris Tomlin’s song, Amazing Grace (My
Chains Are Gone).
    Rosa shook her head at the being-set-free part of the lyrics. “Our
house smells. There’s no power or water. It will take ages to fix! How
can you feel free in this mess? Why did God let the hurricane come?”
     Aunt Julia stopped. “God is good even when storms come! Job
lost his family, money, health, and home. He cried out—but didn’t
blame God. Instead, he said, ‘Shall we…accept good from God, and…
not accept adversity?’ (Job 2:10 NKJV). Job believed his changing
circumstances didn’t change God’s goodness.”
    Rosa protested, “If you love someone, you don’t hurt him.”
                                    5
“Really?” asked Mama. “Do you love your little brother?”
    “Of course,” answered Rosa.
    “What happened when you pulled him away from the campfire last
night?”
    “He fell and cut his knees,” Rosa admitted, “but he’d have been
hurt worse if he had fallen in. Today, he’s proudly showing everyone his
superhero bandages.”
    Mama nodded. “After the pain, he’s still happy. Can we trust God
to bring good from this storm’s damage?”
    Rosa thought. “Maybe. It will take a LOT of work, though. We
can’t just bandage this house.”
    “True,” said Mama. “Over years, God restored what Job lost. He
praised God even in hard times, and so can we.”
    “Well, let’s repaint my room a brighter color!” laughed Rosa.
   “Too much talking—where’s that picnic lunch?” called Uncle Raul.
“Who’ll give thanks for the food?”
    Rosa smiled. “I will!”

Has a storm or flood brought destruction to your family’s home or a
friend’s neighborhood? Do you worry about your safety when forecast-
ers predict dangerous weather patterns? God loves people even when He
allows hard times in their lives. Look for the good things that will come
after the storm.

Job 1:13-22, Job 42: 10-17

God loves us, even when hard times come.

                   The Lord has promised good to me,
                       His word my hope secures
                    He will my shield and portion be
                        As long as life endures.

                                     6
Changed
    by Gail Wofford Cartee

   A green caterpillar crawled on the sidewalk. Thomas looked for
something to scoop it up and took it home. “Mom, look what I found!”
     Mom paused from making dinner. “That’s one huge caterpillar. Put
it in your critter cage, and we’ll look up caterpillars online later.”
    After dinner, Thomas saw the caterpillar making a web in the
corner of the cage.
    “By morning it will be inside its cocoon,” Mom said.
    “How long will it stay?” asked Thomas.
    “Let’s just watch and see.”
      Thomas checked the cage every day for a while. Fall turned to
winter, and winter to spring, and still the cocoon showed no signs of
life. “The caterpillar is dead,” said Thomas. “May as well toss it.” Mom
just smiled.
    At school, Thomas saw Mrs. Hope, the school counselor, talking
with his teacher. Then Mrs. Hope faced the children.
    “Class, I have some sad news. Our friend, Eli, was in an accident
yesterday.” Tears ran down Mrs. Hope’s cheeks. “I’m so sorry. Eli didn’t
survive. Please pray for his family.” The class sat still as she left the
room.
    When Thomas got home, he told Mom about Eli.
     “Thomas, I have something to show you.” Mom took Thomas
to the critter cage. A luna moth was emerging from the cocoon.
“I’m sorry your friend died. Do you remember the Bible story about
Lazarus?”
                                    7
Thomas nodded. “Yes, he was sick and died. Then Jesus called him
from the grave, and he came out alive.”
    “Exactly. Your caterpillar seemed dead, but he came out of his
cocoon more beautiful than ever. It’s okay to be sad. That’s part of
losing someone we love. Jesus was sad when Lazarus died.”
    “We learned John 11:35. ‘Jesus wept.’ Jesus cared that His friend
died and everyone was sad,” said Thomas.
    “Jesus also reminded them that He is the resurrection and the life.
Jesus’ creation reminds us of His promises. Your caterpillar emerged
today to remind us that one day Eli will be resurrected too.”

Our lives do not end with death. One day, Jesus will call us from the
grave. We will be changed and made perfect. We will meet Him in the air
to live forever with our Lord and Savior.

John 11:25, 26; John 11: 39–45; 1 Thess. 4:13 -18 (KJV)
1 Thess. 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the
dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall
be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

                                    8
Dad Moved
    by Mary Jane Cobble Downs

    Davie walked out the front door and sat on the steps, beating his
baseball hard into his glove. His mother followed, knowing that he
might need to talk.
    After a few minutes, Davie said, “Mom, why did Dad have to die?”
    Mom shook her head. “I don’t know, Son.”
   “We prayed, and I believed that God would heal him. Why didn’t
God heal him?”
    “I don’t know why God took your dad to heaven instead of healing
him here on earth,” Mom said. “But I do know that God knows what
He’s doing, even if we don’t understand. His wisdom is so much greater
than ours.”
   “But I miss Dad so much, and now I won’t get to see him again,”
Davie said. Tears filled his eyes.
    “Davie, that’s not true. You’ll see your dad again. He asked Jesus
to come into his heart when he was a teenager, and you asked Jesus to
come into your heart last year. Pastor John baptized you both together.
Remember?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Mom patted Davie’s shoulder. “In the Bible, Jesus says He’s
preparing a place and that all His followers will be there with Him
together—forever. Your dad just moved to heaven before us. We’ll see
him later when it’s our turn to move up there.”
     “So—Dad’s living in a different place where we can’t see him, but
he’s still alive and living with Jesus?” Davie asked.

                                   9
“Yes, Son, your dad just changed locations.”
   “But who’s going to help me practice baseball and take me to
games?”
    “Well, I’m always here,” Mom said. “And your coach and
teammates have already offered to help. And don’t forget that Uncle
Joey and Uncle Sam love baseball as much as you do. Why don’t you
invite them over to play? No one will ever replace your dad. But others
are waiting to help, if you’ll let them.”
  Davie thought about that, and then he smiled. “Want to play catch,
Mom?”
    “I’d love to, but I’m not as good as your dad.”
    “That’s okay, Mom,” Davie said. “I’ll teach you.”

Have you lost a parent to death? Find people who make you feel
comfortable, and tell them how you feel. They may not always have the
answers you’re looking for, but they’ll comfort you while you’re looking. If
you don’t know anyone like that, write your thoughts in a journal until
someone is available. During hard times, it’s very important to express
your thoughts instead of holding them in.

John 14:1–3
Verse 3: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and
take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (NIV).

God’s followers go to heaven.

                                     10
Good Answer
    by Darcy Hendrick

    Sage searched the pantry shelves. “Where are my snacks?”
   Brock, her older brother, exchanged a worried look with their
mother.
    “Where’s Ethan?”
    Brock shot out the door and up the stairs to Ethan’s room.
    “Mom!” Brock hurried down the stairs, an unconscious Ethan in
his arms. Their mother and Sage rushed into the hallway.
    “Sage, get the epi pen. Brock, lay him on the couch.”
    Within seconds, the epi pen was jabbed into Ethan’s thigh, 911
was called, and EMTs were on the way.
    “Stupid allergy,” Sage vented.
    “Stupid kid,” Brock said under his breath. But his mother heard.
    “Brock!”
    “I know, Mom. It’s just—how many times are we going to have to
deal with this? And what if, one of these times, we’re too late?”
    Brock spoke a fear they all had. All except six-year-old Ethan,
who continued to ignore his food allergy and eat foods that might
take his life.
   Later that evening, the brothers raced cars around the track of
Ethan’s favorite video game as Ethan sat in bed.
    “I won again! That’s three times in a row,” Ethan cheered.
    “Yeah, I hear ya,” Brock said, laughing.
    “Well, at least you hear,” Ethan muttered. “God never does.”
                                     11
“What do you mean?” Brock asked.
    “I keep praying for this stupid allergy to go away, but God doesn’t
hear.”
    Brock sat on Ethan’s bed. “Do you sneak foods you’re not supposed
to eat to test God?”
   Ethan said defiantly, “Yeah, why not? I ask God all the time, but He
doesn’t care.”
     “You know what I realized today?” Brock didn’t wait for an answer.
“I realized how much I would miss times like this if you weren’t here.
As much as you drive me crazy, you’re one of my favorite people to
spend time with. With every allergic reaction, I’m terrified I’m going to
lose you.”
    Ethan sat stunned. “You mean, me having this allergy makes you
care more about me?”
   Brock smiled. “I would care anyway, but your allergy makes me
want to spend more time with you.”
    “So maybe God does listen and care,” Ethan said. “If I had to
choose between no allergy or less Brock, I’d choose this stupid allergy
any day.”
    “Good answer,” Brock said with a grin.

Do you ever wonder if God hears, or if He does, if He cares? You pray
but God doesn’t take away the difficulty? God says that He can use ALL
THINGS, that means even the bad stuff, for our good if we are His. For
Ethan, that meant more time spent with a big brother who valued Ethan
more because of a dangerous food allergy. The good God brings might not
always be easy to see, but God can be trusted. When He says He will use
all things for good, there will be good.

Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (KJV).

                                   12
Hope Through the Tears
    by Cindy Lynn Sawyer

    Sammy woke to the popping and crackling of fire. Bitter smoke
suffocated him. His eyes strained to find the door. Stepping out of bed,
he tripped over his backpack and fell to the floor.
     Just then, he remembered his dad saying that smoke rises. Dad had
said, “If you’re ever caught in a fire, drop to the ground for breathable
air.”
    Having a fireman for a dad had lifesaving benefits. Sammy stayed
low to the ground.
    Suddenly, someone pulled him up, and strong arms encircled him.
   “Keep your eyes closed and your head down!” a man’s voice
commanded. “We have to jump.”
    Sammy’s heart hammered, but he obeyed. He heard the man
shatter a window.
    The man pulled Sammy close and jumped through the window
with him. Sammy felt himself falling, wrapped in the man’s arms.
    Thud!
   A hard fall on the ground punched the air out of Sammy’s lungs.
Sammy rolled over. Tears stung his eyes. His mom embraced him as he
caught his breath.
    The man who saved Sammy lay moaning on the ground. People
surrounded the man. Another man drove Sammy and his mom to the
hospital.
    Later that night, Sammy learned that he had lost not only his home
but also his dad in a wildfire. Sammy couldn’t help but question God.
                                   13
“Mom,” he asked, “why did God save us but not Dad?”
   “Oh, Sammy,” Mom said with watery eyes. She hugged him. “The
world isn’t always safe.”
    She sighed deeply. “Remember the man who rescued you?”
   The knot in Sammy’s throat kept him from speaking, so he just
nodded.
    Mom said, “He broke his legs when he jumped out the window
with you. He risked his life to save you. Your dad did the same for
others.”
    “But Dad shouldn’t have died.”
    Tears spilled onto Sammy’s cheeks.
    Mom gently pulled Sammy’s chin up until his eyes met hers.
   “Sammy, the Bible says there’s no greater love than laying down
your life for others. Jesus died for us so that someday we can live in a
world that’s no longer broken. Where there’s no more pain or sorrow.”
    Sammy threw his arms around Mom’s neck and cried.
    “I want Dad back.”
    Mom held him close.
    “So do I. So very much.”

Have you lost someone close to you? Losing someone you love can make
your heart hurt for a long time. We live in a world where disaster, disease,
and other bad things exist. Even Jesus endured pain and death in this
imperfect world. But remember—God’s always with us, and He’s created a
new sorrow-free world where we can live with Him forever.

Revelation 21:4
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away” (KJV).

God will make all things new.

                                     14
Sheltered
    by Cathy Biggerstaff

    “Olivia, come downstairs, please. It’s time to leave.”
   Olivia obeyed her mother’s call, but she didn’t want to leave the
house.
    “Mom, I’m scared. I don’t want to go out in the storm.”
    “I know, sweetie, but this storm is dangerous, and the waters are
getting higher. The water may flood our house if it rains much more.
I’m glad that our town has a special place for us to stay warm and dry
until it’s safe to go home.”
   Olivia put her raincoat on, grabbed her doll Isabelle by the hand,
and followed her mother onto the bus that would take them to the
emergency shelter.
    Arriving at the shelter didn’t calm Olivia’s heart. Hundreds of
people were milling around, and there was lots of noise from adults
talking and children crying. Olivia followed her mother to the space
they’d been assigned and sat down on her little cot.
    She pulled her doll close and whispered in Isabelle’s ear, “Don’t tell
the others when we get home, but you’re my favorite. I’m so glad you
came with me.”
     Olivia felt her stomach growl. “Mom, I’m hungry. What will we eat
for lunch? How can you cook for us?”
    Mom assured Olivia and Isabelle that they would be fed. “Food
will be donated by nice people in our community. It’ll be here very
soon.”
    Olivia gently rocked Isabelle and patted her on the back.

                                    15
“Shh, sweet baby,” Olivia cooed into Isabelle’s ear. “I know that this
shelter is a scary place with all these people we don’t know. But Mom
says that no matter where we are, God’s with us. She says He never
leaves us because He loves us so much.”
     Sometimes, Olivia was very scared. Mom read to her from the
Bible, pointing out a special verse. “Deuteronomy 31:8 says, ‘It is the
LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you
or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’”
    Olivia didn’t understand everything her mother was telling her.
But she felt better knowing that no matter where she was living, at
home or in a shelter, God was there and would take care of her.

Are you ever afraid? Do you feel frightened during thunderstorms? Do
you feel nervous when you’re alone? Most people get scared sometimes.
When you feel scared, remember what Olivia learned—God is always
with you. He wraps His loving arms around you, and He’ll shelter you
from the scary things in life.

Isaiah 43:1–3
Verse 2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and
through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through
fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” (ESV).

God will take care of you.

                                    16
Singed but Not Broken
    by Grace Geide

   Dad stopped the truck. “You’re sure you want to see the house,
honey? It’s in rough shape since the fire.”
    Crystal nodded. “I want to find the flower pot that Grandma made
me.”
    “Okay,” Dad said. “It’s not safe to go inside, but we’ll search the
yard.”
    Dad lifted Crystal down from the truck. She looked across the yard
and saw a blackened shell where her house used to be. The glass was
gone from the windows. The roof was shattered. There was a pile of ash
over the garden.
    Crystal felt tears filling her eyes, and she pressed her face into her
dad’s coat.
    Dad knelt and hugged her. “It’ll be okay, sweetheart.”
    “No, it won’t. We’ve lost everything!”
    “It’ll be okay—you’ll see. Let’s find your flower pot.”
   Dad searched with Crystal. He helped her step around broken
boards.
    “At least someone got to keep her house,” said Dad, pointing.
   Crystal looked up and saw a bird fluttering into a birdhouse in a
small tree in the yard. Suddenly, she remembered something.
    “Dad—what will she eat? We were scattering birdseed, but now our
bags of birdseed are burned up.”
    “Don’t worry,” said Dad. “She’ll find something. Watch her while I

                                     17
search closer to the house. I think I know where your flower pot might
be.”
    Crystal watched the bird hop across the grass. The bird looked
around but didn’t seem to find anything.
    “I’m sorry,” Crystal whispered. “I wish I could help.”
    “Look what I found by the garden!” called Dad. Crystal turned to
see him holding a purple flower pot.
    “My flower pot!” she said, hugging it close.
    “It’s singed but not broken,” Dad said. “And our friend found
something too.” He pointed to the tree. The bird was flying to the
birdhouse, holding a worm in her beak.
   “How did she find that so fast?” asked Crystal. “I thought she’d go
hungry without birdseed.”
    “The Bible says that God feeds birds, even though they don’t grow
their own food,” Dad said. “And guess what? If He helps birds that
much, He’ll help us too, even though we’ve lost so much. Does that
make you feel better?”
   “Yes,” said Crystal. She smiled. “As long as He doesn’t feed us
worms.”

Are you worried because your family needs something important, like
money, food, or a house? Remember that you’re not alone. God never
stops watching over you, and He knows what you need. Call out to Him
for help. He will provide for you, just as He helps the rest of His creatures.

Matthew 6:25–34
Verse 26: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they
reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye
not much better than they?” (KJV).

God will provide for you.

                                      18
Snowstorm Fears
    by Brenda Covert

    As Leo Mayes and his mother drove home, fluffy clumps of
snowflakes fell, and the landscape turned white. His mother’s knuckles
turned white as well. She dug her cell phone out of her purse.
   “Call your dad, Leo. Tell him where we are and that we should be
home in half an hour.”
   Taking the phone and seeing the red battery symbol, Leo said,
“Your phone is almost dead.”
   Mom let up on the gas, gaze still intent on the road ahead. “Hurry
and call your dad before it dies!”
    The phone had just started to ring when the car swerved, jerking
Leo to the right.
    “Mom!”
    She met his wide-eyed gaze in the rearview mirror with her own
look of alarm.
    The car spun and slid off the road, jolting to a halt in the ditch. Leo
looked at his empty hands. Where had Mom’s phone gone?
    Mom moaned from the front seat.
    “Mom? Are you all right?” Leo asked.
     Mom rubbed her head. “I’m okay. Are you all right?” She strained
to look at him in the back seat.
    “I’m fine, but I dropped your phone! What happened?”
    “We must have hit a patch of ice.”

                                    19
Leo found the phone under the seat, but it was dead. “What are we
going to do now?”
       Mom told him to climb into the front seat. Then she wrapped
her arms around him and hugged him.
    “We are going to pray,” she said. “God knows where we are, right?”
Leo nodded. “So we’re going to pray and ask him to keep us safe and
send help. The Lord is with us, Leo. We have nothing to fear.”
    Mom’s prayer calmed Leo’s anxious heart. The whole world could
be blanketed in white, and God would still know where he was. He had
forgotten that.
    Leo and his mother both jumped in their seats when someone
thumped the car and yelled “Hello!”
    What a relief! A tow truck driver had seen the car and stopped
to help! The man put the car back on the road and let Leo’s mother
borrow his phone to call her husband.
    Leo returned to the back seat. “I’m glad God is with us!”
    “Me too,” said Mom as she drove them home.

Do you know that God never loses sight of you? Do you know how much
He loves you? Do you ask Him for help when scary things happen? Even
when you feel helpless, you can trust that God knows where you are and
will send what you need.

2 Thess. 3:16
“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The
Lord be with you all” (KJV).

                                  20
The Worst Day Ever
    by Robyn Grage

    “Today was the worst day ever, Mom.” Megan slid into the chair
and dropped her book bag on the floor. Muffy came running and
jumped in her lap, yipping happily. Megan picked her up and buried
her face in the dog’s soft fur, trying to keep the tears from falling again.
    “What’s wrong, honey?” her mother asked.
    Megan looked up and saw her mother set aside the vegetables she
was sautéing for soup. Their savory aroma filled the room. “I guess you
heard about the shooting, didn’t you?” she asked.
    “I did—just a few minutes before you got home.”
    “You know my teacher, Mrs. Phelps?” Megan continued. “She grew
up in that town and knows some of the kids at that school. And her
nephew…” She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.
    “Oh, no, Megan! I’m so, so sorry!”
    Megan’s mother sat beside her and reached for her. Megan leaned
into her and cried. “Mom, if God loves us, how could he let this
happen?” Megan asked, still sniffing.
     “I don’t know, honey. We never know for sure why things like
this happen,” her mother answered. “What we do know is that God
does love us. He knows all about what happened, and he allowed it to
happen for reasons we don’t understand now.”
    “But I don’t see how this could be good at all…”
    “I know. Neither do I, but I trust God, and I know he will make
everything all right in eternity.” She went to the window and looked
                                     21
outside. “Come and look at this, honey.”
    Megan set Muffy down and looked out the window at the lush
green woods and flowers. The birds were singing as if nothing was
wrong. “It’s beautiful, Mom.”
   “Yes, it is, and it tells us about the Creator. The same God who
made us and all we see has power over death too. He proved it when he
came out of the grave. No one else could ever do that.”
    Megan felt her mother’s strength and faith, her peace, even though
there was still sadness. Then she understood. Because Jesus is alive, we
know he can and will make everything right. Jesus really is the hope of
the world…even on the worst day ever.

There will always be pain, death, and grief in this world, but there can
also be peace and hope for those who believe the promises of God and
trust him for salvation. Revelation 21:4 is God’s promise that he will make
everything all right someday when life on this earth is over and we live in
heaven with him.

John 11:17-27, 34-44; Rev. 21:4; John 14:27 (NKJV)
Rev. 21:4: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall
be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more
pain, for the former things have passed away” (NKJV).

John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the
world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid” (NKJV).

God gives peace in an evil world.

                                     22
How can I know God’s salvation
and direction in my life?

    The Bible presents God’s acts, words, and interactions with people
since the beginning of the world. Here are important claims the Bible
makes about God, the world, and people:
    •   God created the world and the living plants and creatures on
        earth (Genesis 1:1-2:25)
    •   This world was good, but the first humans broke their
        relationship with God when they substituted their choice for
        the limit God had put in place. This sinful choice brought
        trouble, pain, disease, conflict, and death into the world. We
        see these consequences today in everyday problems and in
        major disasters that occur. (Genesis 3:1-11:9)
    •   While people still reflect some goodness (“the image of God,”
        Genesis 1:27), good intentions and acts on just the human
        level cannot drive out evil in the world or repair the broken
        relationship between God and people (Jeremiah 17:9 and Isaiah
        64:6-7)
    •   God loves people so much that He provided a way to restore
        the relationship broken by sin. Salvation is the gift God offers
        to those who acknowledge and turn from their sin, accept by
        faith the gift of atonement made through His Son, Jesus Christ,
        and seek to make Him first in their life (Isaiah 64:8, Isaiah
        53:1-9, Luke 1:1-2:40, John 3:16-18, John 1:1-13, John 6:28-40,
        Matthew 6:25-34, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 3:23, Romans
        6:23, Romans 5:1-9, and many others)
    •   Jesus was crucified, died, and rose from the dead to take away
        sin (all gospel accounts, Galatians 3:10-29, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, and
        2 Peter 1:16-21).
    •   God reveals Himself through the world He has created,
        through the Word (Bible record) He directed people to write

                                   23
and preserve, through His Holy Spirit (who lives in those who
accept Jesus), and through miraculous events (Psalm 19:1-4,
Romans 1:18-25, Exodus 3:1-4:31, John 17:1-21:25, John 16:5-20,
John 4:24, John 14:17, Romans 8:9, Ephesians 1:13, Galatians
4:6, 5:16-23, 1 Timothy 4:1, James 4:5, 1 John 4:13, 1 John: 5:6).

                           24
Proyecto Devocional de la Conferencia
Escribir Para Encender 2018
Introducción
      La conferencia de Escribir Para Encender es un grupo de escri-
tores, sin fin de lucro, para cristianos quienes escriben para audien-
cias de jóvenes, desarrollaron esta serie de devocionales para niños y
jóvenes quienes han pasado por desastres naturales u otras tragedias.

   En las semanas, meses y años de venir, los jóvenes y los ancianos
necesitaran ser animados y ser recordados del amor de Dios, espe-
cialmente cuando las circunstancias malas vienen; si sean tornados,
huracanes, inundaciones, tiroteos, fuegos, lesiones o enfermedades.

   La Biblia incluye muchas historias de personas quienes sirvieron a
Dios y lo encontraron a El fiel, aun cuando las cosas malas sucedieron
en sus vidas. También la Biblia presenta la historia de la creación y ex-
plica como la maldad entro al mundo perfecto que hizo Dios. Aunque
ya no vivimos en este mundo perfecto hoy en día, podemos conocer a
Dios y disfrutar de la plenitud y hermosa vida que El ofrece a todos los
que creen en El.

   Les invitamos a leer y compartir estos devocionales, totalmente
gratis, para contemplar cuando Dios te trae “un hermoso tocado en
lugar de cenizas” a las áreas y a las personas recuperando de perdidas u
otras circunstancias malas. Que la bendición de Dios sea en cada uno
de ustedes cuando realizan que Él está usando estos eventos difíciles en
las vidas para aumentar la fe, el amor y la unidad de la comunidad.

                                   25
Un buen protector
    por Grace Geide

    Mamá estaba sentada en la cama, sobando la espalda de Josh. “No
has salido de la casa toda la semana, cariño. El tiroteo ocurrió hace
semanas, en el otro lado de la ciudad. Ahora es seguro salir afuera.
Consigamos algo de helado y hablemos acerca de esto.”
    Josh movió su cabeza negativamente.
     “Vi a personas muertas en la television; estaban echados en la
tierra. Y cuando pasamos por la escuela donde ocurrió el tiroteo, vi los
huecos de las balas en el frente del edificio. Tengo miedo ser disparado
si salgo de la casa.”
    Mamá abrazó a Josh.
    “Yo sé. Estoy orando por ti, y estoy aquí si quieres hablar.”
    “Gracias, Mamá.”
    En ese momento, un perrito blanco entró corriendo al cuarto,
ladrando y puso sus patas en las piernas de Josh. Josh se sonrió y
acarició la cabeza del perro.
    “Debo dejar salir a Max.”
    Mamá y Josh entraron a la cocina, y Max los siguió. Josh estaba por
abrir la puerta, pero Mamá de repente movió negativamente su cabeza
y recogió a Max.
    “Tal vez no debemos permitir que Max salga afuera. Puede ser
atropellado por un carro o robado. Y ¿te acuerdas cómo ese perro
grande lo correteó?”
    Mamá llevó a Max a su jaula.
                                    27
“Hay peligros incluso aquí en la casa. Debe quedarse en su jaula lo
más posible.”
    Josh miraba fijamente a Mamá mientras ella encerraba a Max en su
jaula.
    “Pero Mamá, Max necesita salir afuera. Es bueno que salga a
correr.”
    “No sé, Josh. Está más seguro aquí.”
     “Pero, ¿qué clase de vida es esa?” protestó Josh. “Yo vigilaré a Josh,
y le protegeré si algo malo pasa.”
   Mamá se sonrió y abrió la jaula. Max saltó al patio del fondo
cuando ella abrió la puerta de la cocina.
    Mamá colocó su brazo al hombro de Josh.
    “Tienes razón. Aunque sea peligroso afuera, es bueno que Max
salga a jugar en el sol. Es afortunado tener un buen dueño como tú. ¿Y
sabes qué? Tú tienes a Alguien maravilloso vigilándote también.”
    Josh miró que Max corría en el patio, correteando una mariposa.
    “Dios me ama a mí más que yo amo a Max, ¿cierto?”
    “Mucho más,” dijo Mamá. “Es normal tener miedo, y es bueno ser
cuidadosos. Pero recuerda, Dios te protegerá hasta que sea tu tiempo
para irte de esta tierra.”

¿Te sientes temeroso/a cuando oyes acerca de tiroteos y otras tragedias?
Haz todo lo que puedas para ser cuidadoso/a, pero no te preocupes de
lo que te pueda ocurrir. Recuerda que Dios te está protegiendo. Cuando
sientas temor en tu corazón, pídele a Dios que te ayude confiar en Él. Él
nunca te dejará.

Salmos 91:1-10
Salmos 91:2: “Yo le digo al SEÑOR: ‘Tú eres mi refugio, mi fortaleza, el
Dios en quien confío’” (NVI).

Confía en la protección de Dios.

                                    28
Después de la tormenta
    por Deborah S. DeCiantis

    “¡Está allí todavía!” Rosa aplaudió, corriendo hacia la casa de ellos.
    Ella tuvo que deternerse. Barro bloqueba la entrada. Le faltaban
ventanas y gran parte del techo a la casa de sus vecinos.
    “¡Nuestra calle está arruinada!” gimió ella.
    Mamá y la tía Julia la alcanzaron, la abrazaron y lloraron juntas.
    El tío Raúl y los primos de Rosa, Jorge y Pedro, trajeron la carretilla
con herramientas y cosas necesarias. Inmediatamente empezaron a
palear el barro y a separar lo arruinado en montones. Pronto habían
abierto un camino para entrar a la casa. Rosa olía el tapizado mohozo
de los muebles y comida podrida.
    Secándose las lágrimas, Mamá y la tía Julia se pusieron guantes
para trabajar, le dieron a Rosa las suyas y empezaron a recoger los
platos y las ollas. Mientras trabajaban, su tía suavemente cantaba la
canción de Chris Tomlin, Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) –
Gracias admirable (mis cadenas se han ido).
     Rosa movió la cabeza negativamente en la parte del canto donde
las palabras dicen que somos liberados.
     “Nuestra casa huele. No hay electricidad ni agua. ¡Nos llevará
siglos arreglar todo! ¿Cómo puedes sentirte libre en este mugrero? ¿Por
qué dejó Dios venir el huracán?”
     La tía Julia dejó de cantar. “¡Dios es bueno incluso cuando vengan
las tormentas! Job perdió a su familia, su dinero, su salud y su casa.
Él gritó, pero no culpó a Dios. En cambio, dijo: ‘Si de Dios sabemos
recibir lo bueno, ¿no sabremos recibir también lo malo?’ (Job 2:10

                                    29
NVI). Job creía que sus circunstancias no cambiaban la bondad de
Dios.”
       Rosa protestó. “Si amas a alguien, no los vas a lastimar.”
       “¿De verdad?” preguntó Mamá. “¿Amas a tu hermanito?”
       “Claro que sí,” contestó Rosa.
       “¿Qué ocurrió anoche cuando lo alejaste de la fogata?”
    “Se cayó y se hirió las rodillas,” Rosa admitió, “pero se hubiera
herido peor si se hubiera caído al fuego. Hoy orgullosamente les está
mostrando a todos sus curitas de superhéroes.”
   Mamá afirmó con la cabeza. “Después del dolor, él aún está feliz.
¿Podemos confiar que Dios traerá bien de los daños de esta tormenta?”
   Rosa pensó. “Tal vez. Sin embargo, requerirá MUCHO trabajo. No
podemos ponerle una curita a esta casa.”
    “Cierto,” dijo Mamá. “Al pasar los años, Dios restauró lo que Job
había perdido. Él alabó a Dios aún en los tiempos difíciles, y nosotros
podemos hacer lo mismo.”
       “Entonces, ¡pintemos mi cuarto un color más brillante!” Rosa se
rió.
    “Demasiada conversación—¿dónde está ese almuerzo picnic?”
llamó el tío Raúl. “¿Quién dará las gracias por la comida?”
       Rosa sonrió. “¡Yo las dare!”

¿Una tormenta o una inundación ha destruido la casa de tu familia o
el vecindario de un amigo/una amiga? ¿Te preocupas de tu seguridad
cuando los prognosticadores anuncian peligrosas situaciones del tiempo?
Dios ama a las personas incluso cuando Él permite tiempos difíciles en
sus vidas. Busca las cosas buenas que vendrán después de la tormenta.
Pensamiento clave: Dios nos ama, incluso cuando vengan los tiempos
difíciles.

Job 1:13-22, Job 42:10-17

                                        30
Transformado
    por Gail Cartee

     Una oruga verde subía a la acera. Thomas buscó algo para tomarla
y se la llevó a su casa.
    “Mamá, mira lo que encontré!”
    Mamá paró de hacer la cena. “Es una oruga muy grande. Ponla
en tu jaula de insectos y mas tarde buscaremos en línea mas acerca de
orugas.”
    Después de la cena, Thomas vio a la oruga tejiendo su capullo en la
esquina de la jaula.
    “Por la mañana ya estará adentro de su capullo,” dijo mamá.
    “Cuanto tiempo estará allí?” preguntó Thomas.
    “Observemos y ya verás.”
    Thomas checó la jaula cada día por un tiempo. El otoño se tornó
en invierno y el invierno en primavera, pero el capullo aún no parecía
tener vida. “La oruga está muerta,” dijo Thomas. “Mejor la voy tirar.”
Mama solo sonrió.
    En la escuela, Thomas vio a la señora Hope, la consejera escolar,
hablando con su maestra. Entonces la señora Hope volteó hacia los
niños.
     “Clase, tengo malas noticias. Nuestro amigo, Eli, tuvo un accidente
ayer.” Lagrimas rodaron de las mejillas de la señora Hope. “Lo siento.
Eli no sobrevivió. Por favor oren por su familia.”
    La clase quedó quieta mientras ella salía del salón.
    Cuando Thomas llegó a casa , le contó a su mamá acerca de Eli.
                                   31
“Thomas, tengo algo que mostrarte.” Mamá llevó a Thomas a la
jaula de insectos. Una mariposa Luna estaba saliendo del capullo. “
Siento mucho que tu amigo murió. Recuerdas la historia en la Biblia
acerca de Lázaro?”
   Thomas asintió con su cabeza. ‘Sí, el estaba enfermo y murió.
Después Jesús le dijo que saliera de la tumba, y el salió vivo.”
     “Exactamente. Tu oruga parecía muerta, pero salió de su capullo
mas hermosa que nunca. Es normal estar triste. Eso es parte de perder
a alguien que amamos. Jesús también estuvo triste cuando Lázaro
murió.”
    En Juan 11:35 nos enseña que ‘Jesús lloró’ A Jesús le dolía la muerte
de su amigo y que todos estuvieran tristes, ‘’ dijo Thomas
    Jesús también les recordó que El es la resurrección y la vida. La
Creación de Jesús nos recuerda de sus promesas. Tu oruga salió hoy
para recordarnos que un día Eli resucitará también.

Nuestras vidas no terminan con la muerte. Un día, Jesús nos llamará de
la tumba. Seremos transformados y perfectos. Luego lo recibiremos en el
aire, y así estaremos siempre con el Señor y Salvador (1 Te. 4:13-18).

Juan 11:25, 26; Juan 11:39-45; 1 Tes. 4:13-18
1 Tes. 4:16-17: 16“El Señor mismo descenderá del cielo con voz de mando,
con voz de arcángel y con trompeta de Dios, y los muertos en Cristo
resucitarán primero. 17 Luego los que estemos vivos, los que hayamos
quedado, seremos arrebatados junto con ellos en las nubes para
encontrarnos con el Señor en el aire. Y así estaremos con el Señor para
siempre” (NVI).

                                   32
Papá se mudó
    por Mary Jane Cobble Downs

    Davie salió de la puerta delantera de la casa y se sentó en los
escalones, tirando fuertemente su pelota de béisbol a su guante.
   Después de unos minutos, Davie dijo: “Mamá, ¿por qué tuvo que
morirse Papá?”
    Mamá meneó la cabeza. “No lo sé, hijo.”
    “Nosotros oramos y yo creí que Dios lo sanaría. ¿Por qué no lo
sanó Dios?”
    “Yo no sé por qué Dios se llevó a tu papá al cielo en vez de sanarlo
aquí en la tierra,” dijo Mamá. “Pero sé que Dios sabe lo que Él está
haciendo, aunque nosotros no lo entendamos. Su sabiduría es mucho
más grande que la nuestra.”
   “Pero extraño tanto a Papá y ahora no lo podré ver otra vez,” dijo
Davie. “Sus ojos se llenaron de lágrimas.”
    “Davie, eso no es cierto. Verás otra vez a tu papá. Él le pidió a Jesús
entrar en su corazón cuando era adolescente y tú le pediste a Jesús
entrar en tu corazón el año pasado. El pastor Juan los bautizó a los dos
de ustedes juntos, ¿te acuerdas?”
    “Sí, señora.”
     Mamá le dio palmaditas al hombro de Davie. “En la Biblia, Jesús
dice que Él está preparando un lugar y que todos Sus seguidores
estarán allí juntos con Él para siempre. Tu papá acaba de mudarse al
cielo antes que nosotros. Lo veremos luego cuando sea nuestro turno
mudarnos para allá.”

                                    33
“Así que, Papá está viviendo en un lugar diferente donde no lo
podemos ver, pero ¿aún vive y está viviendo con Jesús?” preguntó
Davie.
    “Sí, hijo, tu papá simplemente cambió de lugares.”
    “Pero, ¿quién me va a ayudar practicar béisbol y llevarme a los
partidos?”
     “Pues, yo siempre estoy aquí,” dijo Mamá, “y tu entrenador y los
otros jugadores ya han ofrecido ayudar. Y no se te olvide que tu tío Joey
y a tu tío Sam aman el béisbol tanto como tú. ¿Por qué no los invitas
a ellos venir a jugar contigo? Nadie jamás reemplazará a tu papá. Pero
otros están listos ayudar, si tú los dejas.”
  Davie pensó en eso y se sonrió. “¿Quieres jugar a tiranos la pelota,
Mamá?”
    “Me encantaría, pero no soy tan buena como tu papá.”
    “Está bien, Mamá,” Davie dijo, “yo te enseñaré.”

¿Has perdido a uno de tus padres a causa de la muerte? Encuentra a
personas que te hagan sentirte cómodo/a, y diles cómo te sientes. Tal vez
no siempre tengan las respuestas que buscas, pero te consolarán mientras
estés buscando. Si no conoces a nadie así, escribe tus pensamientos en un
diario hasta que alguien esté disponible. Durante los tiempos difíciles, es
muy importante expresar tus pensamientos en vez de llevarlos dentro de ti.

Juan 14:1-3
Juan 14:3: “Y, si me voy y se lo preparo, vendré para llevármelos conmigo.
Así ustedes estarán donde yo esté” (NVI).

Los seguidores de Dios van al cielo.

                                    34
Buena respuesta
    por Darcy Hendrick

   Sage buscaba en los estantes de la despensa. “¿Dónde están mis
comidas de refrigerio?”
    Brock, su hermano mayor, y su madre se dieron una mirada
preocupada.
    “¿Dónde está Ethan?”
    Brock salió disparado por la puerta y arriba por las escaleras al
cuarto de Ethan.
    “¡Mamá!” Brock apresuradamente bajó las escaleras, Ethan
inconsciente en sus brazos. Su madre y Sage se apuraban para entrar al
corredor.
    “Sage, consigue la jeringa de epinefrina. Brock, acuéstalo en el
sofá.”
   Dentro de unos segundos, le inyectaron la jeringa de epinefrina al
muslo de Ethan, llamaron al “911” y los trabajadores de emergencias
médicas venían en camino.
    “Alergia estúpida,” se desahogó Sage.
    “Niño estúpido,” dijo Brock en voz baja. Pero su madre lo escuchó.
    “¡Brock!”
    “Yo sé, Mamá. Es que…¿cuántas veces vamos a tener que soportar
esto? ¿Y qué tal si una de estas veces, lleguemos muy tarde?”
    Brock expresó un temor que todos tenían. Todos excepto Ethan
de seis años que seguía ignorando su alergia a ciertas comidas y comía
comidas que tal vez le quitarían la vida.

                                   35
Luego esa noche, los hermanos jugaban a las carreras con sus
carritos alrededor de la pista de uno de los videojuegos favoritos de
Ethan mientras él estaba sentado en cama.
    “¡Gané otra vez! Ya van tres veces seguidas,” aclamó Ethan.
    “Sí, te oigo,” dijo Brock riéndose.
    “Bueno, por lo menos tú oyes,” murmuró Ethan. “Dios nunca oye.”
    “¿Qué quieres decir?” preguntó Brock.
    “Sigo orando para que esta alergia estúpida se vaya, pero Dios no
oye.”
    Brock estaba sentado en la cama de Ethan. “¿Comes comida a
escondidas que no debes comer para probarle a Dios?”
    Ethan dijo desafiante, “Claro, y ¿por qué no? Le pido a Dios todo el
tiempo, pero a Él no le importa.”
    “¿Sabes de lo que me di cuenta hoy?” Brock no esperó una
respuesta. “Me di cuenta qué tanto extrañaría tiempos como estos si
tú no estuvieras. Aunque me vuelves loco, eres uno de mis personas
favoritas para pasar tiempo. Con cada reacción alérgica, tengo mucho
miedo que te voy a perder.”
    Ethan sentado, estaba estupefacto. “O sea, ¿el hecho de que yo
tengo esta alergia hace que te preocupes más por mí?”
   Brock se sonrió. “Me preocuparía de todos modos, pero tu alergia
me hace querer pasar más tiempo contigo.”
    “Así que, tal vez Dios sí oye y le importo,” dijo Ethan. “Si yo tuviera
que escoger entre no tener esta alergia o tener menos tiempo contigo,
yo escogería esta alergia estúpida sin pensarlo.”
    “Buena respuesta,” dijo Brock con una sonrisa.

¿Te preguntas si Dios oye, o si lo hace, si a Él le importas? ¿Oras pero Dios
no quita la dificultad? Dios dice que Él puede usar TODAS LAS COSAS,
eso significa incluso las cosas malas, para nuestro bien si somos suyos.
Para Ethan, eso significaba pasar más tiempo con su hermano mayor

                                     36
que valorizaba a Ethan más a causa de la peligrosa alergia de comida.
Lo bueno que Dios tal vez traiga no siempre es fácil verlo, pero podemos
confiar en Dios. Cuando Él dice que usará todas las cosas para bien,
habrá cosas buenas.

Romanos 8:28
“Ahora bien, sabemos que Dios dispone todas las cosas para el bien de
quienes lo aman, los que han sido llamados de acuerdo con su propósito”
(NVI)

                                   37
La esperanza a través
de las lágrimas
    por Cindy Lynn Sawyer

    Sammy se despertó al sonido de ¡pa! y chisporroteo de fuego. El
humo cortante lo sufocaba. Sus ojos se esforzaban para encontrar la
puerta. Al salirse de la cama, se tropezó con su mochila y se cayó al
piso.
    En ese momento, se acordó que su papá decía que el humo sube.
Su papá le había dicho: “Si te encuentras atrapado en un fuego, cáete al
suelo para el aire respirable.”
   Teniendo un bombero como papá tenía sus beneficios. Sammy se
quedó cerca al suelo.
    De repente, alguien lo recogió y unos brazos fuertes lo rodearon.
     “¡Mantén los ojos cerrados y la cabeza agachada!” una voz varonil
le ordenó. “Tenemos que saltar.”
   El corazón de Sammy pulsaba apresuradamente, pero él obedeció.
Oyó al hombre destrozar la ventana.
   El hombre apretó hacia sí a Sammy y saltó por la ventana con él.
Sammy se sintió cayendo, envuelto por los brazos del hombre.
    ¡Pum!
    Una caída dura a la tierra sacó el aire de los pulmones de Sammy.
Sammy se dio vuelta. Las lágrimas le ardían los ojos. Su mamá lo
abrazó mientras él intentaba recobrar el aliento.
    El hombre que había salvado a Sammy gemía, acostado en la tierra.

                                   38
Las personas rodeaban al hombre. Otro hombre condujo a Sammy y a
su mamá al hospital.
    Luego esa noche, Sammy supo que no solamente había perdido
su casa pero también a su papá en un fuego incontrolado. Sammy no
pudo evitar cuestionar a Dios.”
    “Mamá,” preguntó él, “¿por qué Dios nos salvó a nosotros pero no
a Papá?”
    “Oh, Sammy,” Mamá dijo con ojos llorosos; lo abrazó. “El mundo
no siempre es seguro.”
    Ella suspiró profundamente. “¿Te acuerdas del hombre que te
rescató?”
    El nudo en la garganta de Sammy no le dejaba hablar, así que
solamente afirmó con la cabeza.
    Mamá dijo: “Se quebró las piernas cuando saltó de la ventana
contigo. Él arriesgó su vida para salvarte. Tu papá hizo lo mismo por
otros.”
    “Pero Papá no debió haberse muerto.”
    Las lágrimas se desbordaron en las mejillas de Sammy.
     Mamá cuidadosamente alzó la barbilla de Sammy hasta mirarse a
los ojos el uno al otro.
    “Sammy, la Biblia dice que no hay más grande amor que el dar su
vida por otros. Jesús murió por nosotros para que algún día podamos
vivir en un mundo que ya no esté quebrantado. Dónde no habrá más
dolor ni tristeza.”
    Sammy arrojó sus brazos alrededor del cuello de Mamá y lloró.
    “Quiero a Papá devuelta.”
    Mamá lo agarró muy de cerca.
    “Yo también. Bastante.”

¿Has perdido a alguien cercano a ti? El perder a alguien que amas puede
hacer que tu corazón duela por mucho tiempo. Vivimos en un mundo

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