Jesus Stills the Storm

Victoria was supposed to keep it a secret, but Peter confided in her that he and James just loved Friday Night pizza and movie. That after their first experience of the family tradition, they had lain in bed stuffed. "James could not move, and I even had to burp. Don't tell Mama and Papa, ok?"

Last evening Bob's Friday night movie selection was The Black Stallion, a movie with limited dialogue and an exciting story about a shipwreck in which a young boy and a wild black stallion are washed ashore on a desert island. It was long and we didn't finish it, but it did make a good jumping off point for their bedtime story. Jesus was asleep in the boat with His disciples, and a great storm arose.

What began as me trying to figure out how to explain it in very basic English, turned into a very interactive experience for us all! (though not as violent as the story of how God delivered the Midianites into the hand of Gideon!) James leapt up onto the top bunk and demonstrated how the ship rocked in the huge waves, and Peter clung to my ankle in fear.

The Bible lesson ended with us practicing the words of Jesus as He arose to command the storm, "Peace! Be still!" Grabbing them by the pajama seats, I hoisted them into their beds, and, covers up, laid a hand on each head and said, "Peace, be still. Jesus loves you so much."

Later, before Maggie and Rob went off to bed, we four gathered on our queen-size bed and talked about the day. (So far the younger boys have not been allowed into our bedroom area, but that is ok because their schedule calls for an earlier bedtime.)

Then it was "Good-night, John-Boy, Good-night Rob and Mimi. Peace, be still to you, too."