🕯️ Why Lanterns Were So Important in the Past

A Peaceful, Heartwarming Story‑Lesson for Children

Lanterns were once more than decorations or pretty lights — they were lifelines, guides, and symbols of hope. Long before electricity brightened homes and streets, lanterns were the faithful companions of families, travelers, and entire communities.

1. Lanterns Helped People Find Their Way

In the past, nights were truly dark — no streetlights, no glowing windows, no headlights. When people walked home from church, visited neighbors, or traveled through forests and fields, a lantern was their only guide. Its small flame pushed back the darkness just enough to show the next step. Children learned early: “Stay close to the lantern, and you’ll stay safe.”

2. Lanterns Protected Families

A lantern hanging on a porch or in a window told travelers, “This home is safe.” It warned away wild animals and helped families check on their barns, animals, and fences at night. A glowing lantern meant someone was awake, watching, and ready to help.

3. Lanterns Were Used for Work and Chores

Farmers carried lanterns to milk cows before sunrise. Fishermen used lanterns to see their nets. Mothers used lanterns to check on sleeping babies. Lanterns lit kitchens, barns, workshops, and schoolhouses. Without them, work simply could not be done.

4. Lanterns Brought Communities Together

Before electricity, lanterns lit town meetings, church gatherings, and celebrations. People carried lanterns in parades, hung them on wagons, and placed them along paths for special events. A row of lanterns meant joy was happening nearby.

5. Lanterns Were Symbols of Welcome

A lantern in the window meant, “Come in — you are not alone.” Travelers looked for lanterns the way sailors look for lighthouses. A single flame could mean warmth, food, and friendship.

6. Lanterns Helped Deliver Messages

In some towns, lanterns were used to signal danger, call meetings, or warn of storms. One lantern in a tower might mean “Be alert.” Two lanterns might mean “Trouble is coming.” Lanterns spoke a language everyone understood.

7. Lanterns Represented God’s Guidance

Families often read Psalm 119:105 by lantern‑light: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Children learned that just as a lantern shows the next step, God’s Word shows the next choice. Lanterns became symbols of faith, prayer, and God’s steady guidance.

8. Lanterns Brought Peace in the Night

When storms raged or winds howled, a lantern’s glow comforted families. Its warm light reminded them that darkness never wins — even the smallest flame can chase it away. Many children fell asleep watching a lantern flicker softly in the hallway.

9. Lanterns Helped Build Our Country

Pioneers, soldiers, farmers, and families all depended on lanterns. They lit the way for wagon trains, guided early settlers, and helped build towns, roads, and homes. Lanterns were part of America’s story — symbols of courage, hope, and perseverance.

10. Lanterns Still Teach Us Today

Even though we have electricity now, lanterns remind us of something timeless: God’s light still leads us. Just as lanterns guided families long ago, God guides our hearts today — step by step, choice by choice, day by day.

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©

🕯️🎵 Devotional Lesson: “Lead the Way”

Theme: Following God’s Light Wherever He Leads Scripture: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (KJV) © 2026 Susan Barker Nikitenko — All Rights Reserved

⭐ Opening Thought

Long ago, travelers carried lanterns to find their way through the dark. Today, we carry something brighter — God’s Word — a light that never fades. When we sing “Lead the Way,” we’re reminding our hearts that Jesus is our Guide, even when the path feels uncertain.

⭐ Story‑Lesson

One evening, a young girl named Anna was walking home from church with her family. The stars were hidden behind clouds, and the road seemed darker than usual. Anna held her little lantern tightly, watching its glow dance across the path.

Suddenly, she stumbled on a stone and almost dropped the lantern. “Daddy,” she whispered, “I can’t see very far.”

Her father smiled. “That’s all right, sweetheart. The lantern shows just enough for the next step. That’s how God’s Word works too — it doesn’t always show the whole road, but it always shows the next right thing.”

Anna looked down at the small circle of light and felt peace. She realized that following Jesus was like walking with a lantern — trusting the light to lead her safely home.

⭐ Lesson Truth

• God’s Word is our lamp — it helps us see what’s right and what’s wrong.

• Jesus is our Guide — He leads us through every season of life.

• Faith means trusting His light, even when we can’t see the whole path.

When we sing “Lead the Way,” we’re saying, “Lord, I’ll follow You — step by step, day by day.”

⭐ Activity Idea

Let each child hold a small paper lantern (or flashlight) while singing the chorus. As the leader sings “Lead the way, Lord Jesus, lead the way,” the children lift their lanterns high — a symbol of faith and joy.

⭐ Reflection Questions

1. What does it mean for God’s Word to be a lamp?

2. How can we follow Jesus when we don’t know what’s ahead?

3. What are some ways we can “shine” for Him at home or school?

🕯️ Bible Story Comparison

How God’s Light Led His People Then — and Still Leads Us Today

1. Lanterns in the Past vs. God’s Light in Scripture

Just as lanterns once guided families through dark paths, the Bible shows us many moments when God provided light for His people. Lanterns were small, steady flames that pushed back the darkness — and God’s guidance in Scripture works the same way today.

2. The Pillar of Fire — God’s Lantern for Israel

When the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, God led them with a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). It was bright, comforting, and impossible to miss. Just like a lantern on a long journey, God’s fire showed them where to walk and reminded them He was near.

Comparison:

• Lanterns guided families home.

• God’s fire guided His people toward the Promised Land.

• Both gave direction, comfort, and hope in the dark.

3. Gideon’s Torches — Light in Obedience

Gideon’s army carried torches inside clay pitchers (Judges 7:16–20). When they broke the pitchers, the sudden blaze of light showed God’s power and victory.

Comparison:

• Lanterns helped people work in the night.

• Gideon’s torches helped God’s people win a battle.

• Both showed that light reveals truth and drives away fear.

4. David’s Lamp — Light for the Soul

David wrote, “The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1). He wasn’t talking about a lantern in his hand — but a lantern in his heart. God’s presence gave him courage when enemies surrounded him.

Comparison:

• Lanterns comforted families in the night.

• God’s light comforted David in danger.

• Both brought peace, courage, and strength.

5. Jesus — The Light of the World

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). His light doesn’t flicker, fade, or burn out. It shines in every heart that trusts Him.

Comparison:

• Lanterns lit homes, barns, and paths.

• Jesus lights our hearts, choices, and lives.

• Both show the way — but Jesus shows the way forever.

6. Our Light Today — Shining Like Lanterns

Jesus tells us to “let your light so shine before men” (Matthew 5:16). That means our lives become lanterns others can see — glowing with kindness, truth, and courage.

Comparison:

• Lanterns helped people see in the dark.

• Our lives help others see God’s love.

• Both shine because someone cared enough to carry the light.

⭐ Closing Prayer

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being our light and our guide. Help us to follow You with trusting hearts. When the path is dark, remind us that Your Word will always lead the way. Amen.”

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©

🎶 Lead the Way — Call & Repeat Version

© 2026 Susan Barker Nikitenko — All Rights Reserved

(Leader sings the first line. Children echo the second line.) (Echo lines are indented.)

⭐ Verse 1 — Call & Repeat

Leader: When the morning sun is shining,  Children: When the morning sun is shining,

Leader: And the birds begin to sing,  Children: And the birds begin to sing,

Leader: I will lift my heart to Jesus,  Children: I will lift my heart to Jesus,

Leader: He’s the Lord of everything!  Children: He’s the Lord of everything!

Leader: He will guide my steps each moment,  Children: He will guide my steps each moment,

Leader: He will teach me how to pray—  Children: He will teach me how to pray—

Leader: When I follow in His footsteps,  Children: When I follow in His footsteps,

Leader: He will lead the way!  Children: He will lead the way!

⭐ Chorus — Call & Repeat

Leader: Lead the way, Lord Jesus, lead the way!  Children: Lead the way, Lord Jesus, lead the way!

Leader: Show me how to walk in truth each day.  Children: Show me how to walk in truth each day.

Leader: When the road is bright or when it’s gray,  Children: When the road is bright or when it’s gray,

Leader: I’ll trust You, Lord—please lead the way!  Children: I’ll trust You, Lord—please lead the way!

⭐ Verse 2 — Call & Repeat

Leader: When the clouds are dark and heavy,  Children: When the clouds are dark and heavy,

Leader: And my heart begins to fear,  Children: And my heart begins to fear,

Leader: I will listen for His whisper—  Children: I will listen for His whisper—

Leader: He will always draw me near.  Children: He will always draw me near.

Leader: He will shine His light before me,  Children: He will shine His light before me,

Leader: Turn my night to golden day,  Children: Turn my night to golden day,

Leader: When I follow in His mercy,  Children: When I follow in His mercy,

Leader: He will lead the way!  Children: He will lead the way!

⭐ Bridge — Call & Repeat

Leader: He leads the children,  Children: He leads the children,

Leader: He leads the grown,  Children: He leads the grown,

Leader: He leads the lost ones  Children: He leads the lost ones

Leader: Safely home.  Children: Safely home.

Leader: His Word’s a lamp,  Children: His Word’s a lamp,

Leader: His love’s a song—  Children: His love’s a song—

Leader: He leads us right where we belong!  Children: He leads us right where we belong!

⭐ Final Chorus — Call & Repeat

Leader: Lead the way, Lord Jesus, lead the way!  Children: Lead the way, Lord Jesus, lead the way!

Leader: Guide my heart to trust and sing and pray.  Children: Guide my heart to trust and sing and pray.

Leader: Every step I take, I’ll gladly say—  Children: Every step I take, I’ll gladly say—

Leader: I’ll follow You, Lord—please lead the way!  Children: I’ll follow You, Lord—please lead the way!

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026© MBAnnaBenRMNMPMPBKNGEOPASTOR #2997

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

🫏 The Day the Farm Met Baby May - Story from Marvin and Marvina

🫏 The Day the Farm Met Baby May

A Melvin & Melvina Farm Celebration Story

Narrator:

Sunrise had barely stretched its golden sunbeams drift across the fields when the news began to spread — Melvin and Melvina were welcoming a brand‑new member to their family. And not just any member… a tiny, bright‑eyed, soft‑eared baby donkey named Baby May.

The farm had never been so alive.

The Chickens Hear It First

The chickens were the first to know — chickens always know things first. They clucked and chuckled and flapped their wings like feathery gossip fountains.

One hen laughed so hard her eggs nearly rolled away. Another laughed even harder… and laid two eggs right on the spot.

“Mercy me!” she cackled. “I’ve never double‑laid from excitement before!” “Baby May must be very special,” another hen replied, fanning her feathers dramatically.

Soon the whole coop was in an uproar of joyful clucking, feathers floating through the air like confetti.

The Pigs Join the Party

When the news of Baby May reached the pigpen, the pigs erupted into the happiest squeals the farm had ever heard.

One pig picked flowers — big, floppy, slightly wilted blossoms he arranged proudly into a bouquet.

One pig made mud pies — dozens of them — each decorated with a single dandelion on top.

One pig painted pails — bright stripes, cheerful dots, and one with a crooked heart.

And one pig planned a party — complete with a mud‑slide entrance and a “no shoes required” rule.

Then came the most ambitious pig of all.

He dipped his hoof into the mud and tried to write a grand welcome message.

He concentrated so hard his ears wiggled.

When he stepped back, the message read:

“WELCOW.”

The pigs stared at it.

Then they burst into laughter so loud the chickens jumped.

“It’s the thought that counts!” one pig snorted.

“And the mud,” another added.

The whole pigpen squealed with joy —

In Memory of Wilber, the pig who always believed every celebration needed extra love, extra laughter, and extra mud.

The Geese Make It Official

When the geese heard the news about Baby May, they immediately formed a parade line — because geese never simply walk anywhere; they march with purpose.

They honked out announcements like town criers:

“Honk‑honk! Important news!” “Honk‑honk! Baby May is here!” “Honk‑honk! Everyone fluff your feathers!”

They strutted around the barnyard giving grooming advice to animals who did not ask for it.

Then came the moment of the Grand Goose Welcome Song.

They lifted their necks, flapped their wings, and honked with all their might.

Most of them were perfectly in tune… except one.

One goose honked so wildly off‑key that the cows stopped chewing, the pigs froze mid‑squeal, and even the owls blinked twice.

But the farm didn’t mind.

They all smiled and said:

“We give him grace.”

Because on a day like this — a day full of joy, new life, and Baby May — even an off‑tune honk was part of the celebration.

The Owls Add Harmony

The Owls Ask… and the Farm Answers

High in the rafters of the old barn, the owls gathered like a feathery choir.

Their round eyes blinked in unison as they tried to understand all the excitement below.

“Whooo is coming?” asked the first owl.

“Whooo is new?” asked the second.

“Whooo is tiny and adorable?” wondered the third.

Every time they asked, the rooster — who had appointed himself the Official Farm Announcer — puffed out his chest, flapped his wings dramatically, and crowed at the top of his lungs:

“BABY MAY!”

The owls nodded wisely each time, even though the rooster startled them so badly their feathers poofed out like dandelions.

Still, they kept asking…

“Whooo will Melvin and Melvina be caring for?”

“Whooo will the farm be celebrating today?”

“Whooo is the new blessing from above?”

And each time — without fail — the rooster crowed again:

“BABY MAY!”

Finally, the owls hooted in harmony,

a soft, echoing welcome song that drifted across the farm like a lullaby.

The Cows Lift Their Voices Too

Out in the pasture, the cows lifted their heads the moment they heard the excitement drifting across the farm. Their tails swished in slow, happy arcs — almost like they were keeping time to a tune only cows could hear.

One cow hummed softly.

Another tapped her hoof in the grass.

And then, as if they had rehearsed it for weeks, the whole herd swayed together and moo‑sang:

“Any mooooment now, I’m sure…”

Their deep, warm voices rolled across the field like a gentle bass line, blending with the geese’s honks, the pigs’ squeals, and the chickens’ chuckles.

They smiled while mooing and chewing,

content, calm, and full of joy —

because they knew something wonderful was happening.

Baby May was going to be born.

The Ducks Make a Splash

Down at the pond, the ducks quacked and flapped and splashed water everywhere.

“Quack‑quack! Baby May!”

“Quack‑quack! A new friend!”

“Quack‑quack! Try not to get too wet!”

They were so excited they created a wave big enough to nudge a lily pad onto shore.

And Then… She Arrived

The barnyard grew quiet — the good kind of quiet — the kind that feels like holding your breath before a miracle.

Melvin and Melvina stepped forward, their eyes shining with joy.

Behind them, on wobbly little legs, stood Baby May.

Her ears were soft and floppy.

Her eyes were big and gentle.

Her tiny tail flicked like a happy whisper.

The whole farm gasped.

Melvin Being Melvin

Melvin wiped his eyes dramatically.

“She’s smaller than a sandwich,” he whispered.

“Melvin,” Melvina said softly, “Hee‑haw means: She’s perfect.”

The Farm Rejoices

The animals erupted in celebration:

• Chickens clucked a welcome chorus

• Pigs squealed a joyful melody

• Geese honked a parade rhythm

• Owls hooted a harmony

• Cows mooed a bass line

• Ducks quacked percussion

It was the noisiest, happiest, most wonderfully chaotic farm symphony ever heard.

Baby May blinked at all the excitement…

Then gave her very first tiny “hee‑haw.”

The whole farm melted.

Narrator:

And from that day on, the farm wasn’t just a place to live —

it was a place to love, to laugh, and to grow together.

Because when God sends a new little blessing,

the whole barnyard sings.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord.”

— Psalm 127:3 (KJV)

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©

______________________________________________________________

Lullaby

---

# 🎶 **Adorable Little One 

— Soft Song**  

### *©2026 Susan Barker Nikitenko — All Rights Reserved*

**Verse 1**  

Adorable little one,  

Welcome to the day…  

The sunshine smiles upon you now,  

In such a precious way.  

Your tiny steps are miracles,  

Your gentle eyes so bright…  

Adorable little one,  

You fill our hearts with light.

**Chorus**  

Softly now, softly now,  

Baby May, you’re loved so true.  

Softly now, softly now,  

God is watching over you.  

Held within His tender care,  

Every moment, every prayer…  

Adorable little one,  

He’s guiding you.

**Verse 2**  

The farm is full of happy sounds,  

They’re singing just for you…  

The chickens chuckle, pigs rejoice,  

The geese honk “Welcome!” too.  

The owls ask “Whooo is this gift?”  

The rooster proudly says your name…  

Adorable little one,  

Our world is not the same.

**Chorus**  

Softly now, softly now,  

Baby May, you’re loved so true.  

Softly now, softly now,  

God is watching over you.  

Held within His tender care,  

Every moment, every prayer…  

Adorable little one,  

He’s guiding you.

**Tag**  

Rest, sweet Baby May…  

You’re a blessing from above.  

Adorable little one,  

You are wrapped in endless love.

---

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

Anna’s Flag — Tribute

This is a tribute to Anna Nikitenko my mother-in-law. It is also a tribute to the American flag..  this picture does not look like Anna Nikitenko but is here to help you understand and see some of the things that the story speaks about. In this true story of Anna Nikitenko and her first husband who died of leukemia later after becoming American citizens .. You will learn why Anna loved the American Flag        

                                   

Anna’s Flag — Tribute

Anna was born in a quiet Ukrainian village where the fields stretched wide and golden, and where families lived close to the land that fed them. Her childhood should have been simple — filled with chores, laughter, and the rhythm of village life. But history had other plans for her, and the world she knew began to change long before she understood why.

Communism swept across Ukraine like a cold, merciless wind. Her family’s land — the land they had worked for generations — was seized by the government. Their animals, their crops, their livelihood… all taken. The warmth of her childhood dimmed under the weight of a system that crushed freedom and stole futures.

And then, at just thirteen years old, Anna’s world shattered completely.

One night, soldiers came. They stormed into her village, into her home, into her life. They tore her from her mother’s arms, from her father’s protection, from everything she had ever known. She was forced onto a truck with other children — Ukrainian, Romanian, Jewish — all of them terrified, all of them stolen.

They were taken to the Nazi camps.

There, childhood ended. There, innocence died. There, Anna learned the meaning of cruelty, hunger, fear, and survival.

She saw things no child should ever see. She endured things no heart should ever bear. She lived under the shadow of death, day after day, year after year, in a place designed to break the human spirit.

But even in that darkness, Anna held onto something — a quiet, stubborn spark of hope that refused to die.

And then one day… everything changed.

It began with a sound. A distant rumble. A shift in the air. Whispers spreading through the camp like wildfire.

“They’re coming.” “Someone is coming.” “Help is coming.”

And then she saw it.

A flag.

Not a symbol of oppression. Not a banner of tyranny. But a flag of freedom — the American flag, waving above soldiers who walked with purpose, strength, and compassion.

To Anna, they looked like angels.

The Americans broke open the gates. They lifted the weak. They comforted the terrified. They brought food, water, blankets — but more than that, they brought life.

They brought freedom.

For Anna, the sight of the American flag was not just a moment in history — it was the moment her life was given back to her.

When the war ended, she was given a choice: return to Ukraine, now under the iron grip of communism… or choose a new life in a land she had only heard whispers about — America.

She chose freedom. She chose hope. She chose the American dream.

And she did not choose it alone.

Anna came to America with her husband — a man who had also suffered, also survived, also longed for liberty — and with their first child, born before they left Europe. Two more children were born after they arrived in the United States. They were building a life, a family, a future.

But freedom does not erase sorrow.

Not long after settling in America, her husband died of leukemia. Anna was left alone in a new country, grieving, heartbroken, and responsible for raising three children by herself.

Most people would have collapsed under the weight of such loss. But Anna rose.

She worked tirelessly — cleaning houses, taking odd jobs, doing whatever she could to provide for her children. She refused to let tragedy define her. She refused to let hardship defeat her. She refused to let her children grow up without hope.

In time, she remarried. And from that marriage came another blessing — the birth of George, her youngest child. His brother was ten years older, and his two sisters were the eldest — a family shaped by survival, sacrifice, and strength.

Anna raised four children, and every one of them grew into successful, strong adults — a living testimony to her resilience.

She bought her own home. She built her own life. She lived the American dream not because it was handed to her, but because she fought for it with the strength of a survivor.

And when her life neared its end, she told her son exactly what she wanted:

“Bury me with the American flag.”

Because that flag had once walked toward her like salvation. Because that flag had once meant life instead of death. Because that flag had once told a broken girl, “You are free.”

Today, when your family flies the American flag — not just on Flag Day, but every day — you honor Anna. You honor her suffering. You honor her courage. You honor the country that rescued her and became her home.

The flag waves for many… but for Anna, it was the emblem of deliverance. It was the moment her life changed foever, the moment fear broke, the moment hope returned. For Anna, the American flag was not cloth — it was the hand of a nation pulling her out of darkness and setting her feet on the soil of freedom. She became an American. It was the beginning of her American life.

2026 © Susan Barker Nikitenko

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

🌾❤️ “Dad, I’ll Obey You — A Father’s Day Story of Love and Obedience”

Theme Verse — KJV

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” — Proverbs 1:8 (KJV)

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026© MBANNA BEN KNPB

🌾❤️ “Dad, I’ll Obey You — A Father’s Day Story of Love and Obedience”

A True‑to‑Life Inspirational Retelling

Part 1 — The Warning

There was once a boy named Daniel who grew up in a small country town where the fields rolled like waves and the evenings smelled of honeysuckle. His father, James, was a quiet man — not loud, not demanding — but steady as the old oak tree behind their farmhouse.

One summer afternoon, Daniel asked if he could go down to the river with some older boys from school. They were known for taking risks — climbing slippery rocks, swimming in deep water, daring each other to do foolish things.

James listened, then gently placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“Son,” he said, “I’m asking you not to go. Not because I want to spoil your fun… but because danger hides where boys think they’re strongest.”

Daniel’s heart sank. He wanted to go. He wanted to fit in. But something in his father’s eyes — that mix of love and quiet pleading — made him pause.

“All right, Dad,” he said softly. “I’ll stay home.”

It wasn’t easy obedience. But it was obedience born of trust.

Part 2 — The News

Later that evening, as the sun dipped low and fireflies began to glow, a knock came at the door. A neighbor stood there, breathless.

“James… there’s been an accident at the river.”

The boys Daniel had wanted to join had slipped on the rocks. One was injured. Another nearly drowned before help arrived.

Daniel stood frozen, his heart pounding. His father pulled him close — not with fear, but with overwhelming relief.

“Son,” he whispered, “your obedience saved your life today.”

Daniel buried his face in his father’s shirt, realizing for the first time that obedience wasn’t about rules… It was about love.

Part 3 — The Years That Followed

As Daniel grew older, he never forgot that day. Whenever he faced a crossroads — temptation, pressure, confusion — he remembered his father’s voice:

“Danger hides where boys think they’re strongest.”

And he remembered the safety that came from listening.

Years later, when Daniel became a father himself, he found those same words rising in his own heart as he guided his children.

He understood now what he couldn’t understand then:

A father’s warnings are not chains. They are shields. They are love in its most protective form.

Part 4 — The Father’s Day Reflection

On Father’s Day, Daniel stood beside his aging father on the porch of that same farmhouse. The fields were still rolling. The honeysuckle still sweet. But Daniel saw everything differently now.

“Dad,” he said quietly, “I didn’t know it then… but you were my hero long before I ever realized it.”

James smiled, weathered and gentle.

“I wasn’t trying to be a hero, son. I was just trying to be your father.”

Daniel nodded, tears warming his eyes.

“And that,” he said, “is exactly why you were.”

🌟 Moral of the Story

Obedience is not about control. It is about trust. It is about love. It is about a father’s heart that sees danger long before a child can.

And sometimes… obedience becomes the very thing God uses to save a life.

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026© MBANNA BEN KNPB

 

Theme Verse — KJV

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” — Proverbs 1:8 (KJV)

 

🌾❤️ “Dad, I’ll Obey You”

Let's Think About This

Verse — KJV

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” — Proverbs 1:8 (KJV)

This verse is the heartbeat of this story — a child listening, a father guiding, and obedience becoming protection.

🌿 Story + Scripture Connection

In the story, Daniel obeys his father’s warning, not fully understanding why… but trusting the love behind the instruction.

The Bible teaches the same truth:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” — Ephesians 6:1 (KJV)

Daniel’s obedience saved his life. And Scripture shows us that obedience — to earthly fathers and to our Heavenly Father — brings blessing, safety, and life.

🌾 A Father’s Love Reflects God’s Love

Just as Daniel’s father saw danger ahead, our Heavenly Father sees what we cannot see.

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” — Proverbs 3:6 (KJV)

Daniel’s father directed his path that day. God directs ours every day.

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026© MBANNA BEN KNPB

🌿 A Truth That Happens Every Day

All over the world — in cities, in small towns, on farms, in crowded streets, and quiet neighborhoods — children are spared from danger simply because they listened to their father’s warning.

It doesn’t make the news.

It doesn’t get written in history books.

But it happens every single day.

A father says:

“Don’t go there.”

“Wait for me.”

“Stay close.”

“Come inside now.”

“That’s not safe.”

And a child obeys.

And because of that simple obedience:

a car is missed

a fall is avoided

a stranger is bypassed

a riverbank is left behind

a fire is escaped

a storm is outwaited

a temptation is resisted

Lives are saved quietly —

beautifully —

without applause,

without headlines,

without anyone but God and that father ever knowing.

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026© MBANNA BEN KNPB

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

Melvin & Melvina: Blackberries and Briars

Melvin and Melvina

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🐴 COMEDY SKIT STORY

Melvin & Melvina: Blackberries and Briars

Narrator:
It was a bright summer morning at the church farm, and Melvina the Lone Donkey was feeling extra proud of herself. She had discovered something wonderful — a giant patch of wild blackberries behind the fellowship hall.

Melvina:
(ears perked, tail swishing)
“Hee‑haw means: I found treasure!”

She stuck her nose deep into the bushes… and immediately regretted it.

Melvina:
“Ow! Ow! Ow! These berries bite back!”

Just then, Melvin trotted up the hill, humming a tune only a donkey could love.

Melvin:
“What’s wrong, Melvina? You look like you hugged a porcupine.”

Melvina:
“I was trying to get a snack! But these briars are meaner than a rooster on Monday.”

Melvin puffed out his chest proudly.

Melvin:
“Stand aside. I, Melvin the Brave, will retrieve the blackberries!”

He marched straight into the briars.

Narrator:
And instantly regretted his life choices.

Melvin:
“YEEOW! Why didn’t anyone tell me these bushes have claws?!”

Melvina rolled her eyes so hard her ears wiggled.

Melvina:
“Hee‑haw means: I did tell you. You just didn’t listen.”

Melvin backed out of the briars, covered in leaves, twigs, and one very confused grasshopper.

Melvin:
“Well… maybe the berries aren’t worth it.”

Melvina:
“Oh, they’re worth it. We just need a plan.”

The two donkeys stared at the blackberry patch like generals planning a battle.

Melvin:
“What if we blow on it really hard?”

Melvina:
“What if we ask the chickens to peck the briars off?”

Melvin:
“What if we wait until the berries fall off by themselves?”

Melvina:
“What if we… just go ask Farmer Joe Finn for a bucket?”

They both froze.

Melvin:
“…That actually sounds smart.”

Melvina:
“Hee‑haw means: I have my moments.”

So they trotted off to find Farmer Joe Finn, who happily picked the berries for them — without a single scratch.

Later, the donkeys sat under the shade tree, munching happily.

Melvin:
“You know, Melvina… sometimes the easy way is the smart way.”

Melvina:
“Hee‑haw means: And sometimes you should listen to me the first time.”

They both laughed — or brayed — and enjoyed their blackberry feast, thankful that even donkeys can learn a little wisdom now and then.

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📖 Scripture Verse (KJV)

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…” — James 1:5

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Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©MBANNABENNMRMPMPBKBPASTORGEO #3055v

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🌿 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

“Wisdom for the Briar Patches”

Blackberries are sweet…
but briars are sharp.
And sometimes life feels exactly like that —
a mix of blessings and scratches, sweetness and stings.

Melvin and Melvina wanted the berries,
but they rushed in without thinking,
without asking,
without wisdom.
And they ended up tangled, poked, and frustrated.

How many times do we do the same?

We see something good —
a goal, a dream, a desire —
and we charge ahead without prayer,
without patience,
without asking God for direction.

And suddenly we find ourselves stuck in the briars:
confused, hurting, overwhelmed, or embarrassed.

But the beauty of the story is this:

Wisdom was never far away.
All they had to do was ask.

Farmer Joe didn’t scold them.
He didn’t shame them.
He simply helped — gently, gladly, and wisely.

And that is exactly how God treats us.

He doesn’t mock our mistakes.
He doesn’t roll His eyes at our impatience.
He doesn’t turn away when we get ourselves tangled.

He waits for us to ask.
He delights to guide.
He loves to give wisdom generously.

The briars of life don’t have to defeat us.
With God’s wisdom, we can walk safely,
choose wisely,
and enjoy the sweetness He provides
without the unnecessary scratches.

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©MBANNABENNMRMPMPBKBPASTORGEO #3055w

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📖 Scripture (KJV)

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…” — James 1:5

🌿 Matching Devotional Thought

“Wisdom in the Briar Patch”

Blackberries may be sweet, but briars are sharp — and life often feels the same way. We see something good, something tempting, something we want… and we rush toward it without thinking. Like Melvin and Melvina, we end up scratched, stuck, or surprised by the thorns we didn’t expect.

But the lesson is gentle and clear:

Wisdom keeps us from unnecessary wounds.

Melvin charged in with confidence. Melvina tried with determination. But neither succeeded until they stopped, stepped back, and asked for help.

And isn’t that just like us?

We try to fix things on our own. We try to push through the thorns. We try to pretend we don’t need guidance.

But God is like Farmer Joe — steady, kind, and ready to help the moment we ask. He doesn’t scold us for trying. He doesn’t shame us for getting tangled. He simply offers wisdom, freely and lovingly.

The sweetness of life is still there. The blessings are still waiting. We just reach them better when we walk with God’s wisdom instead of our own strength.

Susan Barker Nikitenko 2026©MBANNABENNMRMPMPBKBPASTORGEO #3055 U

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For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.