The Quiet Room by Esther S. Casady

The walls of the quiet room are blue because Angela convinced everyone that blue was a relaxing color. The walls are covered with family pictures, Cameron’s soccer awards, David’s art, Destiny’s childhood drawings and Angela’s high school and college diplomas. 

It was Angela’s idea to have a quiet room. Sometimes kids just need a place where they can get away from life and just be still. It’s nice to have a place where you can just be quiet, where you can think without interruptions, and where no one talks to you. 

When Cameron comes to the quiet room, he likes to play classical music and sit cross-legged on the floor. He just sits and thinks about anything except for what’s bothering him. If he’s angry, sitting and thinking helps take the edge off his anger.

David comes to the quiet room to draw. He draws the people who pass under his window while listening to Destiny catch him up on her day. Destiny’s voice blocks out all other distractions, and for that, David is grateful. 

Destiny only comes to the quiet room when David is there. Being only seven-years-old, she is not often quiet, but she enjoys spending time with her big brother.

Angela used to use the quiet room a lot. Whenever she had a problem, she and her dad would come up and talk about it. But Angela has grown up and moved away. Soon, Cameron will leave for college, and then David.

When Destiny is older, she, too, will appreciate the quiet room. One by one, all of the kids will grow up and leave. The family pictures will be joined by pictures of grandchildren.

One person will still come to the quiet room when the kids are gone. Dad will come here to the kids’ special place, and here he will pray for each of his kids. He will pray for Angela and her family, and for Cameron was he finds his away in the world. He will pray for David and his art, and for Destiny, that she will be a shining light unto the world. He will also pray for everyone who passes under the window. David use to do this. He used to pray for every person he drew. He still does.

In the quiet room, four kids children have a place to leave their troubles. In the quiet room, four kids can get away from the world for a while.

________________________________________________________________________

Looking For The Light: A True Story of God's Love and Power - Part One _ By Emily Fountain

     The blazing sun shone down on a little clearing in the middle of a remote Indian village, were three little Indian girls were playing. Ten-year-old Arulai threw the small ball, a wad of dried mud and grass, to her friend Marial. Marial caught it, and tossed it to Setta. 

     As Setta caught the ball, it slipped out of her hands and started to roll down the slight incline. Arulai ran after it, but before she could grab it, it hit a big boulder lying in the way, and the rock-hard dried mud ball cracked open.

     

     Arulai turned to Setta in fury. "Setta!", she screamed. She swung her arm around towards Setta, but Setta and Marial were already running away. 

   

     Arulai turned around, and slowly walked to the shade of a big tamarind tree nearby, and sat down. She knew she had a terrible temper, and so did her friends. They all knew not to be too close to Arulai if something didn't go her way. 

     

     Every day, Arulai begged one or another of the many Hindu gods her family worshiped to cure her of her mean temper. But she had prayed to them all, from Siva, the greatest of the Hindu gods, to the least insignificant ones, and nothing had changed.

     

     She had to find the greatest God of the gods who could help her with her temper.

Arulai sighed. She knew Marial and Setta would not want to play with her for a while, so she headed toward her family's hut.

     

     The next afternoon, Arulai was returning from drawing water from the village well for her mother. She was alarmed when she approached her hut, for someone was sobbing from inside. Arulai set down her water jar and ran inside. Her mother was sobbing, and on her lap was Arulai's baby brother.

**********

      Arulai wandered aimlessly about in the overgrown field just outside the village. She was heartbroken. Her baby brother, whom she had loved and often cared for, had died. And worst of all, she didn't know where he was. Her mother said he was in the Land of the Spirits of the Dead.. Her father said the same thing, and added that no one could really know where it was until they got there. Arulai could hardly imagine her dear brother in such a place. The God of the gods must be great, she was sure, but who was he? And why would he do such a thing to her baby brother? 

     Arulai threw herself down in the tall grass.  "Oh greatest of the gods!", she cried. "Hear me! I don't know who you are, but please hear me! Who are you?"

     She looked up at the sky, then down at the ground, expecting something to happen. But nothing did.

     Finally, Arulai got up, brushed the grass off her sari, and went home. 

     For the next few months, Arulai continued to search for the Greatest of the gods, but she never knew any more than she did. 

     And in the meantime, she continued to ask the Hindu gods for help. She did not ask her father which god would help her. His answer was always the same: "I know of no such god, child. You must overcome it yourself". 

     Arulai, now eleven, knew she could not cure her mean temper. She needed the Greatest of all gods to help her. 

     One day, Arulai was making her daily trip to the village well to get water. As she approached the well, she saw a group of people standing nearby. As she lowered her clay jug into the well, she glanced at the people. An Indian man and some foreign people were talking, and a few more people had gathered to listen. She balanced her jug on her head and turned to go.But the Indian man was talking loudly now, and Arulai couldn't help overhearing. And what she heard pierced her heart: "There is a Living God! There is a Living God! I was a lion, and he turned me into a lamb!" 

     Arulai froze. Could she really be hearing this? She had been waiting months to hear this! Oh, how she desperately wanted to stay and hear this God's name! But she didn't dare, for she knew her mother would be very angry if she were late.Very slowly, Arulai started to walk away very slowly, hoping she could overhear a little more.  But the man had lowered his voice, and she heard no more.

*******

     That night, Arulai lay awake on her sleeping mat, long after her family had gone to sleep. 

She kept thinking of the words she had heard: "I was a lion, and He turned me into a lamb". 

"There is nothing sweeter than a lamb", Arulai mused. And nothing fiercer than a lion. My temper is like a lion sometimes". 

     If this Living God could turn a lion into a lamb, surely He could help her mean temper!

The next day, when her mother sent her to the well as usual, instead of grumbling, Arulai grabbed the jug and ran all the way to the well. She hoped the people would be there again so she could listen. And she was not disappointed, for indeed, the foreigners were there again.

     This time, Arulai went a little closer. 

     There was an Indian woman ,and older couple, and a younger amma, or woman, in a plain white sari. 

     "Why do they look so happy?", Arulai wondered. People devoted to the gods never looked so happy. But these people had to be devoted to their God, and  they were so joyful. 

"But I wonder who the amma with the sari is?", Arulai asked herself. "I think I will go to her. She can tell me about the Living God!"

     Suddenly another thought struck her. "My family will not like me worshiping another god than Siva as the greatest. I will surely be in trouble". 

     Then she had another thought. "But if this Living God is the greatest, then he can bring the amma in the sari to me, I know he can!" 

     Happily, Arulai drew her water and hurried home, hoping she would not be in trouble.

     Early that afternoon, Arulai was outside, thinking about how she could be able to see the amma, when Marial ran up. 

     "Arulai!", she cried. "The foreigners are having a meeting for children! Do you want to come?'

     Arulai was overjoyed. She didn't even think about the punishment she would get for going to see low-caste and foreign people. She listened eagerly at the meeting. But on the way home, Arulai started to doubt. Was there a Living God? Or had she just imagined it? She was almost home, when she decided on a test. "I will ask three things of this Living God. If he answers  two of them, I will believe he is real."

     But at that moment her thoughts were interrupted by her mother, who ran out holding her broom. She grabbed Arulai's arm and dragged her inside. You have been listening to those low-caste, foreign people!". she cried. "You have disgraced our family, so you must be punished!

     Arulai was kept inside for the rest of the day, away from her family. But the next day, she slipped out.There was another meeting that day, and she had to go find out more!

She sat amid the group of children near Marial and Setta, who had come too.

At the end of the meeting, the amma asked, "Have any of you been punished for coming to hear about Jesus?"

     Arulai was too embarrassed to answer, but Setta pointed to her. 

     "If you are punished", the amma said, "call upon the name of Jesus, the Lord, and he will help you face your trouble".

     As Arulai left the meeting, she murmured the name over and over to herself: "Jesus Lord, Jesus Lord".  That was the name of the Living God!

     Suddenly, she remembered her test. Arulai looked around.  There beside the road was a tamarind tree, heavy with ripe, sweet fruit.  Arulai knew the law in India- it was illegal to pick the fruit off the tree, but if it fell off, you could take it.

     Arulai looked under the tree.Not one pod had fallen. Arulai closed her eyes "Jesus Lord, please make a pod fall by my feet for me".  She looked up just in time to see a perfectly ripe, but not rotten, tamarind pod fall at her feet. 

     Arulai picked it up with a feeling of awe. She knew the Living God had made it fall for her.

But her heart beat very fast now, for there was only one more test. And it was the hardest,

Arulai was almost at her hut now.

     As she walked, she prayed again, "Jesus Lord, please do not let my mother be angry with me. Show me you are real."  She looked up. She was at her doorstep, and there was her mother. But she did not have her broom.

     "Arulai!", she cried. "I thought you were lost. Come in child". Arulai  went in with feeling like she'd never  had before. It was all settled.  Jesus Lord was the Living God!

What is Impossible with Man Is Possible with God_By Esther S. Casady

What is Impossible with Man

Is Possible with God

By 

Esther S. Casady

“So you’re telling me that God doesn’t exist? That’s crazy.” Ivy sputtered.

13-year-old Jessie Parker flicked her hair out of her face and nodded.  “It’s all mathematical and scientific. Add it all up, and you’ve got a God who doesn’t add up.”

“Doesn’t add up? What is that supposed to mean?”

Jessie grinned. “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” she quoted. “It’s impossible for a camel or anyone else to go through the eye of a needle. You say that Christians are all rich in different ways. Thus, neither sinners nor Christians qualify to enter heaven. So, even if you have faith and belief and all that, you are rich, which keeps you out of heaven. So, no one can get to heaven. It’s all a lie that someone made up.” Jessie paused for emphasis. “You’re a little old to believe in fairytales.” she challenged.

Ivy frowned. “You took that verse out of context. Can you say the rest of it?”

Jessie scowled. “That is the whole verse.” she argued.

“I know that.” Ivy agreed. “That verse is from Luke 18, verse 25. To put it in context, you’d need to say verses 24 through 27.”

“Okay, so quote them.” Jessie said.

“Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, ‘How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’ Those who heard it said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But he said, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’ ”

“And your point is…” Jessie spoke.

“Well, those verses are not saying that rich people can’t go to heaven. Jesus said that it would be hard for a rich man to give up his earthly treasures, and store up treasure in heaven. In Matthew 1:19-21, Jesus warns us against earthly treasure. He said, ‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ ” Ivy quoted. “Later on in the same chapter, He tells us that we cannot serve both God, and mammon.”

“This is why God used the word difficult, and not altogether impossible. What is impossible with man is possible with God. We, out of our love for things of this world, can not get to heaven. But, God has meme to earth and died on a cross that we might be saved. He alone can rid us of our  love of earth and things of this world, money included. Only through Jesus can we reach heaven…”

“Whatever, if you want too believe that stuff, fine. But don’t try to push it on me.” Jessie interrupted.

Jessie stood and brushed dirt and grass off her jeans. “When you’re ready to talk about something more enjoyable, let me know. I’ll be at the park with the kids from school. Adios, amiga!” Jessie turned and hurried down the street.

Ivy bowed her head. “God, please let there be some seeds of Your truth planted in her heart. And, please let them grow. In Your name I pray, Amen.” 

——————————————————————————

A Nights Adventure

I wrote this story a while back, and recently found it in my old story folder. I hope you enjoy it.   :)

A Nights Adventure

By 

Esther S. Casady

     “Bye, Lisa.” twelve-year-old Lindsay said, hugging her friend before climbing into the family van.

     Jenny, Hannah, and Rebecca waved from the windows to the kid standing on the lawn.

     “Is everyone in?” asked Mrs. Lacie.

     “No, the boys aren’t in the van yet.” Jenny replied.

     “Michael, James, Harold, and Mark.” Mrs. Taylor called firmly.

     “We’re coming.” the for boys called in perfect unison.

     “Okay, lets go.  It’s getting late.” said Mrs. Taylor as she deftly backed the big, blue van out of the driveway.

     Lindsay flicked her headlamp on, and proceeded to read a book that she was borrowing from Lisa.  She was so caught up in her book, that she failed to notice the van slowing.  A loudly asked question from her younger brother, Harold, brought her back to reality.

     “Why are we stopping?” Harold asked, his face pulled into a puzzled expression.

     “Yeah, why are we stopping?” James repeated.

     “I don’t know.  The van just won’t accelerate.” Mrs. Taylor replied, frustrated.

     Rebecca pulled her earbuds out to join in the conversation. “Do you think someone sabotaged our van on purpose?” she asked excitedly.

     “No, I most certainly do not, Rebecca Taylor.” Mrs. Taylor replied emphatically.

     Mrs. Taylor shut off the engine, and then tried to restart it.  The engine sputtered and died.  Mrs. Taylor tried again, but this time, the engine just made a weird groaning noise.  Mrs. Taylor checked the gauges and sighed.

     “Well kids, it looks like we’re stuck here.” Mrs. Taylor stated.

     “Stuck!” exclaimed Hannah.

     “Yes Hannah, stuck.” Mrs Taylor affirmed.

     “What are we going to do?” Seven-year-old Michael asked.

     Mrs. Taylor shrugged as she called her husband’s phone.

     “Hello, this is Ryan’s phone.  For some reason, I’m not available to answer your call.  Leave a message or call back later.” a voice on the other end said.

     Hannah stared out the window at the cars passing on the interstate. “I wonder if Momma will call Lisa’s mom, since she can’t reach Daddy.” she thought.

     “Mommy, will you call a tow truck? Can we ride in it?” asked seven-year-old Jenny.

     Mrs. Taylor turned and silently pointed to the phone at her ear.  Jenny silenced quickly, knowing better than to talk when someone was on the phone.

     Lindsay had finished her book, and was almost asleep, when she heard someone call her.

     “Huh, oh, sorry. I didn’t hear you. What were you saying?” Lindsay asked quickly.

     “Momma is talking to you.” Mark said, a trifle impatiently. 

     “AAA won’t tow our van tonight, and my phone died, so I can’t call Mrs. Logan. I need you and Mark to go across that field over there, and borrow their phone to call Mrs. Logan. Ask if she will come and pick us up.” Mrs. Taylor said.

     “Yes, ma’am.” Lindsay said obediently.

     Lindsay and Mark each slipped a jacket on, and stepped out of the van, into a large field.

     “Brr, it’s cold out here.” Mark said. 

     “I know, it’s freezing.” Lindsay replied, before lapsing into silence. 

     The two walked in silence for a few minutes, before finally reaching the house.

     “Oh, finally, here’s the house.” Mark said, stepping up onto the porch as he spoke.  Mark reached for the doorbell, but before he could push it, the door swung open.

     “Hello, do you need something?” a boy asked.

     “We were wondering if we could use your phone?” Mark asked.

     “I can place a call for you, but I can’t let you in.” the boy replied. 

     “Okay, call 251-869-6783, and ask for Mrs. Logan. Please tell her that the Taylors are stuck on I-25, about an hour from her house. Ask if she can come pick is up.” Mark instructed. “Did you get all that?”

     “Okay, yeah sure. Goodbye.” the boy said, slamming the door as he spoke. 

     Mark shifted uncomfortably, not sure if he was supposed to go or stay.  Finally, the door open.

     “I made the call for you. The lady said she’ll come for you. You can go now.” the boy said.

     “Thank you for your help.” Lindsay said gratefully.

     “Well, that was interesting.” Lindsay remarked as she stepped off the porch.

     “You’re telling me.” Mark said with a slight smile.

     A few minutes later, they arrived back at the van. 

     “How did it go?” Mrs. Taylor asked, as she opened the van door for Lindsay and Mark.

     “It went fine.” Lindsay said, proceeding to tell her Momma what had happened.

     An hour later, another van pulled up beside the Taylor van.

     “Finally, Mrs. Logan is here!” Jenny exclaimed.

     “Did she bring Alex?” Michael asked.

     “No, she probably didn’t. He’s most likely in bed, like you will be soon.” Lindsay replied with a smile.

     “So, I heard that you got stuck.” Mrs. Logan said good-naturedly as the children climbed into her van.

     “Yeah, we did. We’ve been here almost four hours.” replied nine-year-old Rebecca.

     Mrs. Taylor climbed in and then Mrs. Logan closed the door.  Mrs. Taylor glanced at the children in the back of the van.  She smiled to herself when she realized that all of the girls, Michael, James, and Harold were already sound asleep. 

     Mark sat upright, trying to keep awake. But soon, no longer able to fight sleep, he fell asleep to dream of his nights adventure.

The End

Death? Explaining The Story Of Death To Children

 Chapter One

14-year-old Sarah squeezed herself onto the couch with the rest of her sixteen siblings. She sat 5-year-old Jeremy on her lap to make more room.

     “Do you know why Dad called this meeting?” 9-year-old Lindsay whispered to Sarah.

     Sarah shook her head thoughtfully. “I can’t think of a reason.” she replied. 

     Lucas was seated on the arm of the couch, holding seven-year-old Cameron. He turned to 18-year-old Alexander, who was one year his junior.

    “Why did Dad call this meeting? Do you know?” he asked.

 Alexander frowned. “I’m not certain, but I think it has something to do with the Linstons.”

     Mr. Benten and Mrs. Benten entered the room and sat down. They both had tears in their eyes. All chatter died away.

     Mr. Benten spoke. “Children, Mrs. Linston passed away last night.”

     “Mrs. Linston is dead?” 7-year-old Schuylar asked quietly.

     “Yes, baby.” Mr. Benten said sadly.

     “How did it happen?” 16-year-old James asked.

     “She was killed in a car accident with several teenagers.” Mr. Benten replied. 

     “That’s so sad. How is Mr. Linston taking it?” 15-year-old Reagan asked.

 Mr. Benten sighed. “He’s taking it very hard. I’m very worried about him. He is grieving, but he still has ten boys to care for.”

    Mrs. Benten spoke again. “Lucas, will you pray for them?”

    Everyone knelt and bowed their heads as Lucas prayed.

     “Dear God, I know that You are aware of this difficult situation. I want to ask You to be with all of the Linstons as they grieve. I know that Mrs. Linston is with You, but we will still grieve our loss. Please help us all through this difficult time. In Your name, Amen.” Lucas prayed.

Chapter Two

 Mr. Benten felt a tug on his sleeve and looked down to see Jeremy standing at his side. Mr. Benten swung his chair around and pulled Jeremy into his lap.

     “What is it, Jeremy?” Mr. Benten asked. 

     “Daddy, what is death?” Jeremy asked.

     “Well, Jeremy,” Mr. Benten began slowly. “It’s when you stop living and your soul leaves your body.”

     “Is death scary?” Jeremy asked next.

     “It doesn’t have to be.” Mr. Benten replied as he reached for his bible on the desk.

Mr. Benten flipped his bible open to Isaiah 25:8. “Jeremy, can you read this?” he asked kindly.

     “He will swallow up death forever; and the lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth, for the Lord God has spoken.” Jeremy read with some help from Mr. Benten.

     “Do you think someone who  wipes your tears away, or purposely forgets the bad things that you did; would be scary?” Mr. Benten asked gently.

     Jeremy shook his head.

     If you trust in Jesus and accept Him as your Savior, you will go to heaven, where Jesus is.” Mr. Benten continued.

     “Where do you go if you don’t believe in Jesus?” Jeremy asked.

     Mr. Benten started to answer but Jeremy interrupted.

 “I remember ! If I don’t ask God into my heart, I’ll go to hell.”

     “You’re right, Jeremy.” Mr. Benten replied solemnly.

     “Daddy, is heaven nice?” Jeremy asked.

     “Yes, it is, Jeremy.”

     “Is it true that Schuylar will walk and that Noah won’t have to wear hearing aids?” Jeremy asked next.

     “Yes Jeremy.” Mr. Benten replied as he flipped his bible to the last two verses of Philippians three.

     “Jeremy, read this.” Mr. Benten said gently.

     “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transform our lowly body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.” Jeremy read haltingly and with help from Mr. Benten.

     “Does that answer your question?” Mr. Benten asked.

     “Yes, Daddy.” Jeremy said, flinging his arms around Mr. Benten’s neck. “I love you lots and lots, Daddy.” he exclaimed.

     Mr. Benten wrapped his arms around Jeremy and smiled. “I love you, too, baby.” 

     Jeremy climbed down and left Mr. Benten’s study. Mr. Benten sat quietly and watched him leave.

Chapter Three

     Lucas walked slowly around the pool, pushing the vacuum over the bottom of the pool. He glanced up when he heard the back door open. He saw 11-year-old Rebecca come outside.

     Rebecca climbed up onto the deck and dangled her feet in the water.

     "Lucas?" Rebecca said.

     "Mmhmm?" Lucas asked absentmindedly. 

     "I was just thinking." 

     "Good for you"

     "I was thinking about Mrs. Linston."

     "What about Mrs. Linston?" Lucas asked.

     "Well...I heard somewhere that if you die unexpectedly, it's because you were doing something really bad." Rebecca said.

     "Rebecca, it say in Hebrews 9:27 that it is appointed once for man to die, and then the judgment. No on died unexpectedly. It was her time to go see God. He was calling her home." Lucas said gently.

     "But Lucas, it can't have been her time to go. She had ten children to care for. Her youngest is only nine?" Rebecca exclaimed.

     "Rebecca, God knows best. I can't tell you His reason, because I don't know it. But it's like when Mommy or Daddy tell to do something. They may choose not to tell us their reason, but we trust their judgment.

    "Yeah, I guess you're right." Rebecca conceded reluctantly.

    " I've struggled with the same feelings, so I can relate." Lucas said.

     Rebecca stood up and jumped off the deck. She turned to go back inside.

     "You know, Lucas, you sound more and more like Dad every day." she said over her shoulder.

     "Thanks, Becca. Lucas said with a smile.

Chapter Four

       "Hand me a nail, please?" Mr. Benten requested.

     8-year-old Timothy placed a hammer in Mr. Benten's hand. Mr. Benten stared at the hammer thoughtfully.

     "Timmy, what are you thinking about?" Mr. Benten asked gently.

     "Babies." Timothy replied.

     "Why are you thinking about babies?" Mr. Benten asked.

     "Daddy, do babies go to heaven when they die?" Timothy asked.

     Mr. Benten sighed heavily. "Timmy, I don't know the answer to that question."

     "But Daddy, you know everything!" Timothy exclaimed in astonishment.

     Mr. Benten chuckled. "Oh, Timmy. I don't know everything. No one knows everything." Mr. Benten said kindly.

     "But you know lots of things." Timothy said.

     "You know a lot of things, too. You're always learning something, but you'll never know everything." Mr. Benten said with a smile.

     "But, when Jacob died last year, where did he go?" Timothy persisted.

     "I don't know where your little brother is. I'd like to think that he's in heaven. But, I really don't know where he is."

     "I still wish that I knew if babies go to heaven." Timothy said sorrowfully.

     "I do, too." Mr. Benten replied, wrapping his arms around Timothy.

Chapter Five

Mr. Benten tapped on Reagan's bedroom door. "Lights out soon. It's almost twelve-thirty. Noah did you hear that?"

     "Yes sir." Noah and Reagan both called out.

     "Mr. Benten moved on down the hallway. "James, Daniel, Andrew, and Harold, lights out soon." Mr. Benten called.

     "Sarah, lights out in ten minutes." 

     Mr. Benten turned and climbed down the stairs. Once in the living room, Mr. Benten flipped the lights off and moved toward his bedroom. A voice in the kitchen stopped him mid-stride.

     Mr. Benten checked the kitchen and found Jeremy sitting in the window seat, praying.

     "And please God, take care of all my brothers and sisters, and Daddy and Mommy. Please let me sleep good. Amen." Jeremy finished.

     "Jeremy, it's a little late, don't you think?" Mr. Benten asked, as he entered the kitchen.

     Jeremy glanced up and smiled. "Yes, sir. I couldn't sleep. I came out here so that I wouldn't wake up Schuylar, Timothy, or Steven. I was thinking about a lot of stuff."

     "What were you thinking about?" Mr. Benten inquired curiously.

     "Death" Jeremy replied. 

     "Again?"

     "Yup." Jeremy replied. "I was thinking about what it might feel like to die. And then, I remembered when I burned my hand on the iron. I decided that I didn't want to burn. So, I told God that I wanted to live either Him. I asked Him to be my other Daddy. Do you think He heard me?"

     "I know He did. I'm so happy for you." Mr. Benten said joyfully.

     "When I die, I'm going to see Jacob." Jeremy declared. 

     "Let's go tell your Mommy." Mr. Benten encouraged happily.

     "Okay." Jeremy said, slipping his hand into Mr. Benten's. As they left the kitchen, Jeremy thought of another question.

      "If we sing good songs in heaven, will people sing bad songs in hell? Will they sing songs with bad words?"

     Mr. Benten chuckled. "I doubt it. But, I really don't know. You'll have to ask God when you reach heaven."

     "Is God married?" Jeremy asked.

     "You could say that. He does say that He has a bride."

     "Oh, okay. I just wondered how God had children. I didn't know that He was married." Jeremy said.

     "Well, um, I'll try to explain that to you one of these days." Mr. Benten grinned.

     "Daddy, I'm not afraid to die anymore." Jeremy confided.

     "That's good." Mr. Benten said.

     "God didn't just swallow death forever. He swallowed my afraidness of death." Jeremy said exultantly.

      

The End

Dedicated to the One and 

only One who can conquer our fears, 

and swallow death forever.

A Summary of Thomas Seymour_By Esther S. Casady

                     

      ~ Forword  

               Death is a horrible thing. Knowing that it's coming to you very soon is terrible also.

I know I'm not a saint, but I'm no criminal!

               The charges against me are false and everyone knows it. My brother,who is the 

Duke of Somerset and protector both was to decide if I was truly guilty of high treason or not.

I believe he would have declared me innocent if it were not for the Privy Council. They told the king he would be biased and asked for full charge of the "case." The king granted permission and I have been told to prepare myself for execution.

                 This is what I am doing…. I shall write all that has led me to this point, so when

the time comes to light I may be vindicated.

  

                                                                       ~Thomas Seymour 

                                   A Summary Of Thomas Seymour 

                                                        by

                                               Esther S. Casady

                It was during the first year of the reign of our sovereign King Edward VI of England

in the year 1547.

                Having saved the Marquess of Dorset from embarrassment over large gambling debts,

I was given full guardianship over Lady Jane Grey. We were on our way to Chelsea to visit the Queen Dowager, Catherine Parr.

                During the last four years of King Henry's reign the Queen and Lady Jane had become very close.

               "Do you think she shall want to see me?" she wondered. "At Hampton Court we needed one another to lean on…..but,now she is no longer under King Henry, will she want me?"

                I really had no idea what was going through that pretty nine year old head of hers. Like Catherine would want to see her again!

               Jane couldn't exactly be called pretty. She had brown eyes, to large and dark against pale skin, and she also possessed an abundance of sandy blond hair.

                The real reason I had wanted her in my household was to cement a relationship between Jane and King Edward who had always been good friends. I was pushing for an alliance between the two.

                 Jane was greeted cordially and went off to find Princess Elizabeth. I went off to find Catherine and we talked of the realm. 

                  When almost time for dinner we went to find the girls. They were obviously talking of some matter that they didn't want us to know of. Elizabeth had seen me at the garden gate and Catherine and I were forced to tell of our marriage.

                   Catherine being recently widowed by the late king had to keep this a secret as to prevent an embarrassing scandal.

                   The protector was enraged when he found out. We had always been rivals since birth and suddenly I had gained Queen Dowager…..My time is slipping away so I must hurry with this tale.

                     War…..what a sad word. My brother has beaten Scotland. They broke the marriage treaty between Edward and Mary the Queen of Scots. War was the only choice. Six thousand men killed fifteen hundred taken prisoners.

                     I wrote letters to the king after my brothers return, I tried to make Edward write a letter to the council complaining against Protector. He caught me, imprisoned and I was forced to kneel and apologize to the protector…..I was publicly humiliated.

                    Shortly afterward Catherine announced that she was pregnant. We moved to Sudely Castle to be remate….She died of child bed fever. I fell apart. I was mad at the world and took it out on my mother and Jane. I saw less and less of them.

                    I started with a close association with a man by the name of Sharington. I became afraid of the world. I believed everyone was out to get me. I manned a garrison at Holt Castle.

                    I went home to Mother and Jane and I was caught. Thirty three charges against me! I sent word that the first three had no substantial  evidence, and I would not condescend to the remaining thirty. I was not even allowed my own trial. I have been told that Sharington, who has helped with my fortress, has testified against me!

                     I hear footsteps coming up the tower steps. I hear voices and a key. I am done for….. May my testimony vindicate me. This is the end….

                                                                       ~Thomas Seymour

      My name is Jane. You know me from as the ward of Lord Thomas Seymour. I want to finish this narrative as a last service for Thomas Seymour.

                On the twentieth of March 1549 he was beheaded  at Tower Hill. He had not surrendered, even at the end. On the scaffold he horrified everyone by refusing to listen to listen to the minister's prayer, by condemning his judges and physically attacking his executioner! When he would not kneel for the blade his life was hacked from him ruthlessly-bloodily. 

    Seymour Place had lost its soul. It's tempestuous spirit was stilled forever.*

                                                                       ~Jane Grey

                                                               *Taken from Coronation of Glory.

A Day In The Life Of Eleanor_By Esther S. Casady

     A Day In The Life of Eleanor

     

     Hi, my name is Eleanor, but everyone calls me Ellie. I’m seven. I am the oldest girl in my family.

     Yesterday, someone said that they wished that they knew what I think about things.

     I guess, since I know, and they don’t, I’m smarter than they are.

     I don’t want to spend a bunch of time writing, so I’m only gonna write about one day. That day, was yesterday.

     Well, yesterday was a Tuesday. I like Tuesdays because Mommy has Bible Study. When she goes to Bible study, I don’t have to do school. When I got up yesterday morning, Daddy was making Raspberry pancakes. He knows that I like them best. 

     On Tuesdays, I get to stay in my pajamas as a special treat, cause Daddy’s in charge. Mommy would never let me do that.

       I still have to brush my teeth, and comb my hair. I wish I didn’t have to, but Daddy says that I wouldn’t look right if my hair was tangled or my teeth were yellow.

  I went to the kitchen where Daddy and Evelynne were. Daddy was trying to braid Evelynne’s hair, but he didn’t know how. He finally just told her to wear her hair down. 

     My Daddy is good at a lot of things, but he can’t fix hair. I don’t blame him. Evelynne’s hair is hard to fix.

     Daddy finished making the pancakes while I  set the table. I’m a big girl, so when I set the table, I use the glass plates.

     Evelynne wanted to help so I let her do the napkins. She’s only four, so she can’t do plates.

     David, my only brother, was already in his highchair. He’s two.

     We all ate breakfast and played a guessing game. We tried to guess what Mommy was doing right then.

     Daddy guessed that Mommy was in her meeting. He sent her a text message just to make her phone ring. Then he guessed that she was jumping up and running out of the room, spilling stuff out of her purse. We all laughed.

     After breakfast, we played Junior Monopoly. I won. Then we played hide-and-seek. Daddy always let David get to base.

     Then we watched Sleeping Beauty. Daddy held Evelynne when she got scared of the mean fairy. I didn’t get scared, ‘cause I’m too big to be scared of movies. After all, I am seven.

     For lunch, we had leftover pancakes and strawberries out of our garden.

     The we had naptime. Mommy got home during naptime. When we woke up, she told us to put our clothes on.

     Daddy had already left to go to work. After snack, Mommy said to run around the house two times and then she’d take us to the library. I carried David because he’s so slow.

     I picked out three books and a movie. Evelynne picked out three books, and David picked out two books. David can’t read his books, so I’ll read to him. Mommy got some bedtime stories to read to us at nighttime.

     At the front desk, the lady said a bad word. I told her that she shouldn’t say that word and Mommy put her hand over my mouth. She told me that I was being rude.

 I don’t think that I was being rude, but I apologized. That’s when she said that she wished she knew what was going on in this head of mine.

     I guess I have opinions on a lot of things. I’m not always right, though. I think about a lot of things. Daddy says I shouldn’t say everything that I think, and then I wouldn’t get in as much trouble.

     After the library, we went to a park and then back home. I read to Evelynne and David while Mommy made supper.

     We had chicken noodle soup. It was hot and I burned my tongue. Mommy said, when you burn your taste buds off, new ones grow back. Just like a gecko or lizard’s tail. I wish I could see them growing back.

     After supper, I changed David and put his pajamas on. Then, me and Evelynne put our pajamas on. Mommy read to us until seven-thirty. Then, David and Evelynne had to go to bed. I got to stay up until Daddy got home at eight o’clock.

     When Daddy got home, he prayed with me and kissed me goodnight. He came and turned my light off and closed the door. He only closed it halfway because he knows I don’t want it closed all the way.

I like having the door open so that I can call Daddy or Mommy if I need them. I’m a big girl, but I’m still Daddy and Mommy’s little girl.

The End