Christianity will go away. It will dry up and disappear. There is no point in arguing with this, I am right and my rightness will be proven. Now the Beatles are more popular than Christ. It is unknown what will leave first: rock and roll or Christianity. (John Lennon)
On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed by a Beatles fan.
_______________________
I have heard for quite some time that 12 people founded a new religion, but I have the pleasure of proving that it only takes one to eradicate religion forever. (Voltaire)
Now Voltaire's Parisian house houses the warehouse of the British Bible Society.
_______________________
I thought that I should do a lot against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This is what I did in Jerusalem: I imprisoned many saints and killed them, and in all the synagogues I repeatedly tortured them and forced them to blaspheme Jesus and, in excessive rage against them, persecuted them even in foreign cities. (Pharisee Saul)
But, having met Jesus, Saul said in awe and horror: “Lord! What will you have me do?” This is how the Apostle Paul was chosen.
_______________________
At the end of time there will be only two classes of people: those who once said to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God will say, “Thy will be done.” (S.S. Lewis)
One climber dared to conquer the peak, which was considered one of the most difficult to climb. Wanting to take all the glory for himself, he decided to do it alone.
But the summit didn’t just give up. It was starting to get dark. The stars and moon were covered with clouds that night. Visibility was zero. But the climber did not want to stop.
And then on one of the dangerous ledges the climber slipped and fell down. He would definitely have died, but like any experienced steeplejack, our hero climbed with insurance.
Hanging over the abyss in complete darkness, the unfortunate man shouted: “God! I pray, save me!”
However, the experienced climber only grabbed the rope tighter, continuing to hang helplessly. So he did not dare to cut it.
The next day, a rescue team discovered the body of a frozen climber, clinging to a rope, hanging only HALF A METER FROM THE GROUND.
CUT YOUR INSURANCE AND TRUST IN THE LORD...
Butterfly
One man brought home a butterfly cocoon and began to observe it. And in due time the cocoon began to open a little. The newborn butterfly struggled for several hours to get out through the resulting narrow gap.
But everything was to no avail, and the butterfly stopped fighting. It seemed that she had crawled out as far as she could, and she had no strength to get out any further. Then the man decided to help the poor butterfly, he took small scissors and cut the cocoon a little. The butterfly now came out with ease. But for some reason her body was inflated, and her wings were shriveled and twisted.
The man continued to watch the butterfly, believing that its wings were about to spread out and become strong. So strong that they can hold the butterfly’s body in flight, which will take the correct shape from minute to minute. But this never happened. The butterfly was forever left with a swollen body and shriveled wings. She could only crawl; she was no longer destined to fly.
In his kindness and haste, the man who helped the butterfly did not realize one thing. The tight cocoon and the need to fight to get out through a narrow gap - all this was planned by the Lord. This is the only way the fluid from the butterfly’s body gets into the wings, and when the insect is free, it is almost ready to fly.
Very often, struggle is what benefits us in life. If the Lord allowed us to go through life without trials, then we would be “crippled.” We wouldn't be as strong as we could be. And we would never have known what it was like to fly.
Astrology
So that when you look at the sky and see the sun,
the moon and the stars and all the host of heaven,
was not enticed and did not bow down to them and did not serve them,
for the Lord your God has distributed them to all the nations under all the heavens.
Deuteronomy 4:19
Everyone knows that astrological forecasts are built depending on what constellation a particular person was born under. Let's think about this.
It seems ridiculous to say that all people born under the same constellation have similar characters.
Will the lives of two children born on the same day and in the same hospital be similar? Of course not! One of them may become rich in the future, and the other poor.
What will astrologers say about twins or premature babies?
Why does everything in astrology depend on the moment of birth, and not on the moment of conception?
What should astrologers do with the Eskimos, whose homeland is located beyond the Arctic Circle, where the Zodiac constellations are not visible in the sky for months?
What about the southern hemisphere, where people live under completely different constellations?
Why do only 12 constellations of the Zodiac influence a person’s life, and not others?
For a long time, the theory of astrology was based on the works of Ptolemy. Relatively recent astronomical discoveries of the planets Uranus (1781), Neptune (1846) and Pluto (1930) led to the fact that horoscopes calculated using Ptolemy's methods began to be considered incorrect.
The next paragraph is for the most erudite.
Imaginary great circle firmament, along which the visible annual movement of the Sun occurs, is called the ecliptic. At certain times of the year, the Sun, moving along the ecliptic, enters a certain constellation in the sky. The twelve constellations falling on the ecliptic are called the constellations of the Zodiac. For centuries it was believed that the ecliptic, like the earth's axis, is motionless. However, astronomers have discovered the precession of the earth's axis. As a result, each constellation of the Zodiac moves back along the ecliptic by about one degree every 70 years. The result is interesting picture. A person born during the time of Ptolemy, for example, on January 1, fell under the constellation Capricorn. In our time, this person is already born literally “under the constellation Sagittarius.” If you wait another 11,000 years, then January 1 will fall in the constellation Leo! This shift of the zodiacal constellations will continue until the earth's axis completes a full circle in its precession after 26,000 years, and the seasons fall under the Ptolemaic signs. Interestingly, astrologers take this into account in their forecasts?
Belief in astrology contradicts the Bible's teaching against star worship (Deut. 4:15-19, 17:2-5). Astrology encourages people to rely on the “stars,” thereby leading them away from the Living God who created these stars.
In these last days The moment is approaching when believers in Christ will be caught up into heaven to dwell with God forever. Therefore, the devil tries to deceive people by offering them an alternative in the form of UFOs, so as not to think about God.
Below are several statements that debunk the extraterrestrial phenomenon hoax.
There are several dozen cases of military aircraft opening fire on UFOs, but no one has ever managed to shoot down or damage the mysterious aircraft.
No radar has ever recorded the entry and stay of a UFO in the Earth's atmosphere.
Despite hundreds of stories of UFO abductions, there is no material evidence to support the claims of people who have allegedly actually been on board extraterrestrial aliens.
When comparing descriptions of UFOs, we can conclude that each time they look completely different. It makes no sense to assume that any other space civilization builds a new-looking spaceship each time and uses it only once.
Even if there were thousands of advanced civilizations in the Universe, the chance for an expedition from any of these civilizations to stumble upon a small planet located on the edge of the Galaxy seems negligible. However, reports are spreading about literally thousands of UFO sightings (the closest star to us is 4.2 light years away).
The aliens live quietly in our atmosphere without any breathing apparatus.
During close contacts, the behavior of extraterrestrial beings does not in any way correspond to what would be logical to expect from highly developed intergalactic wanderers (attacks, kidnappings, murders, attempts to engage in sexual contact).
Extraterrestrial beings with UFOs very often bring anti-Biblical messages, calling for the occult, rejecting the teachings of the Bible about Jesus, God, salvation, etc.
The psychology and actions of supposedly extraterrestrial beings fit very well into the description of demons or fallen angels with their fallen, old, but in no way technically advanced and highly rational nature. These are not biological creatures from another world in the depths of space, but the ghosts of demons living in spiritual world who are just looking for how to deceive a person.
From the book "UFO Facts" by J. Ankerberg
My father returned home from the war in 1949. In those days, all over the country you could find soldiers like my father voting on the highways. They were in a hurry to get home and see their families.
But for my father, the joy of meeting his family was overshadowed by grief. My grandmother was admitted to the hospital due to kidney disease. And although she was given the necessary medical care, immediate blood transfusion was required to save him. Otherwise, as the doctor told her family, she would not be able to live until the morning.
The transfusion turned out to be problematic because my grandmother had a rare blood type - III with negative Rh. At the end of the 40s, there were no blood banks yet, and there was no special service for its delivery. All members of our family donated blood to determine the group, but, alas, no one had the required group. There was no hope - my grandmother was dying. The father, with tears in his eyes, drove from the hospital to pick up his relatives to bring them to say goodbye to his mother.
When my father drove onto the highway, he saw a soldier voting. Heartbroken, he wanted to rush past, but something inside made him press the brakes and invite the stranger into the car. They drove in silence for some time. However, the soldier, noticing tears in my father’s eyes, asked what had happened.
With a lump in his throat, the father told the stranger about his mother’s illness. He spoke about the necessary blood transfusion and about futile attempts to find a donor with blood group III and a negative Rh factor. My father continued to say something while his fellow traveler took out a soldier’s medallion from his bosom and handed it to him to look at. The medallion stated “blood type III (-).” Within seconds, my father's car was speeding back to the hospital.
My grandmother recovered and lived another 47 years. No one in our family was ever able to find out the name of that soldier. And my father is still wondering whether it was an ordinary private or an angel in military uniform. Sometimes we are not even aware of how the Lord can sometimes work supernaturally in our lives.
A rich man once called an architect who worked for him and said: “Build me a house in a distant land. The construction and design are all left to your discretion. I want to give this house as a gift to one of my special friends.”
Delighted with the order he received, the architect went to the construction site. There, a wide variety of materials and all kinds of tools had already been prepared for him.
But the architect turned out to be a cunning fellow. He thought: “I know my business well, no one will notice if I use second-rate material here, or do something of poor quality there. In the end, the building will still look normal. And only I will know.” about the minor shortcomings that have been made. This way I can do everything quickly, without much worry, and I’ll also get a profit by selling expensive building materials.”
The work was completed by the appointed time. The architect informed the rich man about this. Having examined everything, he said: “Very good! Now the time has come to give this house to my special friend. It is so dear to me that for it I did not spare any tools or materials for construction. This precious friend for me is you! And I give This house is for you!"
God gives each person a task in life, allowing him to complete it freely and creatively. And on the day of resurrection, each person will receive as a reward what he built during his life.
There are two opposites living inside me: a lamb and a wolf.
The lamb is weak and helpless. He follows the Shepherd. He cannot live without the Shepherd.
The wolf is self-confident and angry. He longs to devour the lamb. The wolf brings nothing but trouble.
Which of these animals will live inside me? The one I feed.
An ordinary pastor arrived in a small town to serve in one of the local churches. A few days after his arrival, he went from home on business to the city center on a city bus. Having paid the driver and already sat down, he discovered that the driver had given him an extra 25 cents in change.
A struggle began in his thoughts. One half of him said, "Give me back that 25 cents. It's a bad thing to keep it." But the other half objected: “Yes, okay, it’s only 25 cents. Is this a reason to worry? The bus company has a huge turnover of funds, they don’t even care about such little things. Consider these 25 cents a blessing from the Lord, and move on calmly.” ".
When it was time for the pastor to leave, he handed the driver 25 cents and said, “You gave me too much.”
With a smile on his face, the driver replied, “You're the new pastor, aren't you? I was wondering if I should start going to your church. So I decided to see what you would do if I gave you extra change.”
When the pastor got off the bus, he literally grabbed the first lamppost to keep from falling and said, “Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.”
Heroic Feat
“For hardly anyone will die for a righteous man;
perhaps for a benefactor
who decides to die.
But God proves His love for us by
that Christ died for us,
while we were still sinners" (Rom. 5:7-8)
Such an incident occurred in one military unit. The sergeant major went out onto the parade ground during drill training and threw a grenade at a platoon of recruits. All the soldiers rushed to their heels to escape death. But then it turned out that the sergeant was throwing a dummy grenade to test the reaction speed of young soldiers.
After some time, reinforcements arrived in this unit. The foreman decided to repeat the trick with a dummy grenade, asking those who already knew about it not to show it. And when he threw a dummy grenade into the crowd of soldiers, everyone again scattered. But one of the new arrivals, not knowing that the grenade was not real, rushed and lay down on it in order to shield others from the fragments with his body. He was ready to die for his fellow servicemen.
Soon this young soldier was nominated for a medal for bravery. This was a rare case when such an award was not given for success in combat.
If I were in the place of this recruit, I would probably run away with the others to hide in cover. And I wouldn’t even have the thought of dying for my comrades, not to mention people who are strangers to me, and maybe not even very good. But our Lord wished to die for the very last sinners, saving us with His body on the cross!
Chain of love
One evening he was heading home along a country road. Business in this small Midwestern town moved as slowly as his beat-up Pontiac. However, he had no intention of leaving this area. He has been unemployed since the factory closed.
It was a deserted road. There haven't been many people here. Most of his friends have left. They had to feed their families and achieve their goals. But he stayed. After all, this was the place where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew this city well.
He could blindly go down this road and tell what was on each side even with the headlights off, which he easily succeeded in doing. It was getting dark and light snow flakes were falling from the sky.
Suddenly he noticed an elderly lady sitting on the other side of the road. Even in the light of the approaching twilight, he noticed that she needed help. He stopped in front of her Mercedes and got out of the car. His Pontiac continued to rattle as he approached the woman.
Despite her smile, she looked worried. No one had stopped to offer her help in the last hour. What if he hurts her? His appearance was not trustworthy; he looked poor and tired. The lady was scared. He imagined how she might feel right now. Most likely, she was overcome with chills caused by fear. He said:
I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car? Would you be much warmer there? My name is Joey.
As it turned out, the car had a flat tire, but that was enough for the elderly woman. While looking for a jack stand, Joey injured his hands. Dirty and with injured hands, he was still able to change the tire. After finishing the repairs, the woman began a conversation. She said that she lives in another city and was passing through here. She was incredibly grateful that Joey had come to her aid. In response to her words, Joey smiled and closed the trunk.
Joey waited until the lady started driving and drove away. It had been a hard day, but now, heading home, he felt good. After driving a few miles, the woman saw small cafe, where she stopped to have a snack and warm up before driving the last leg of the way home. The place looked gloomy. Outside there were two old gas pumps. The surroundings were alien to her.
The waitress came and brought the lady a clean towel to dry her wet hair. She had a sweet, kind smile. The lady noticed that the waitress was pregnant, about eight months, but that the heavy workload did not change her attitude towards work. The elderly woman was amazed how it was possible, with so little, to be so attentive to to a stranger. Then she remembered Joey...
After the lady had eaten, the waitress went to the cash register to get change for large bill ladies, the visitor quietly walked towards the door. When the waitress returned, she was gone. The waitress rushed to the window in surprise and suddenly noticed the inscription left on the napkin. Tears appeared in her eyes when she read:
You don't owe me anything. I was in a similar position once, and one person helped me a lot. Now it's my turn to help you. If you want to repay me, do this: don’t let the chain of love break.
The waitress still needed to wash the tables and fill the sugar bowls, but she put it off until the next day. That evening, when she finally got home and went to bed, she thought about the money and what the woman had written. How did this woman know how much their young family needed money? With the baby due in a month, it was going to be even harder. She knew how worried her husband was. He slept next to him, she kissed him tenderly and whispered tenderly:
Everything will be okay, I love you, Joey.
People with roses
John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his army uniform and began to peer intently into the crowd of people passing through the central station square. He was waiting for a girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he had never seen, he was waiting for a girl with a rose.
It all started thirteen months ago in a Florida library. He was very interested in one book, but not so much by what was written in it, but more by the notes made in the margins. The dull handwriting betrayed a deep-thinking soul and a penetrating mind.
Having made every effort, he found the address of the former owner of the book. Miss Holis Meinel lived in New York. He wrote to her about himself and invited her to correspond.
The next day he was called to the front. The Second World War began. Over the next year they got to know each other well through letters. Each letter was a seed falling into the heart, as if onto fertile soil. The novel was promising.
He asked for her photo, but she refused. She believed that if his intentions were serious, then how she looked didn't really matter.
When the day came for him to return to Europe, they made their first meeting at seven o'clock. IN central station New York.
“You will recognize me,” she wrote, “there will be a red rose pinned on my jacket.”
At exactly seven o'clock he was at the station and was waiting for the girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he had never seen.
This is what he himself writes about what happened next.
“A young girl was walking towards me - I have never seen anyone more beautiful: a slender, graceful figure, long and blond hair hanging in curls on her shoulders, large Blue eyes... In her pale green jacket, she resembled spring that had just returned. I was so amazed to see her that I walked towards her, completely forgetting to see if she had a rose. When there were a couple of steps left between us, a strange grin appeared on her face.
“You are stopping me from passing,” I heard.
And then right behind her I saw Miss Holis Meinal. A bright red rose glowed on her jacket. Meanwhile, that girl in the green jacket moved further and further away.
I looked at the woman who stood in front of me. A woman who was already well over forty. She was not just full, but very full. An old, faded hat hid his thin gray hair. Bitter disappointment filled my heart. It seemed that I was torn in two, so strong was my desire to turn and follow that girl in the green jacket, and at the same time, so deep was my affection and gratitude to this woman, whose letters gave me strength and support during the most difficult time of my life.
She stood there. Her pale full face she looked kind and sincere, her gray eyes shone with a warm light.
I didn't hesitate. In my hands I clutched a small blue book, by which she should have recognized me.
"I'm Lieutenant John Blancherd, and you must be Miss Maynel? I'm so glad we could finally meet. May I invite you to dinner?"
A smile appeared on the woman's face.
"I don't know what you're talking about, son," she replied, "but that young girl in the green jacket who just left asked me to wear this rose. She said if you come and ask me to dinner, I'll I must tell you that she is waiting for you at a nearby restaurant. She said that this was a kind of test."
John and Holis got married, but the story doesn't end there. Because to some extent this is the story of each of us. We have all met such people in our lives, people with roses. Unattractive and forgotten, unaccepted and rejected. Those whom you don’t want to approach at all, whom you want to get around as quickly as possible. They have no place in our hearts, they are somewhere far away in the outskirts of our soul.
Holis gave John a test. A test to measure the depth of his character. If he turned away from the unattractive, he would lose the love of his life. But this is exactly what we often do - we reject and turn away, thereby refusing the blessings of God hidden in people's hearts.
Stop. Think about those people you don't care about. Leave your warm and comfortable apartment, go to the city center and give a sandwich to a beggar. Go to a nursing home, sit next to an old woman and help her carry a spoon to her mouth while eating. Go to the hospital and ask the nurse to take you to someone you haven't seen for a long time. Look into the unattractive and forgotten. Let this be your test. Remember that the outcasts of the world wear roses.
What I was afraid of happened
“But as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:37).
(this happened a long time ago. Once upon a time there lived one man, and his name was either Simeon or Simon. Because of the long history of times, it is difficult to establish for sure now. We will call him Semyon.
This man was good, but everyone considered him a little strange. While everyone was interested in what was under their feet, Semyon was more interested in what was above his head. Often he went into the forest to be alone, to dream, to look at the sky, to think about the meaning of life. Maybe that's why Semyon was left without work. His wife Klava grumbled at him, food supplies were running out, it was unknown what to do next.
And then one morning Semyon went into the forest and, filled with thoughts, went as far as he had never gone before. Suddenly his stream of thoughts was interrupted by a knock. What is this? Drawn by curiosity, Semyon headed in the direction where the sounds were coming from. Who could have gotten that far? After a short search, Semyon came out into a large clearing and froze in surprise: in the middle of the clearing stood a strange structure, reminiscent of a huge wooden house without a foundation with a huge door and small windows under the roof itself. Several people worked at the construction site. One of them, noticing Semyon, left his work and went to meet him. Semyon was scared, but when he saw the face of the approaching man, he calmed down. It was a gray-haired old man with radiant eyes. His gaze simultaneously pierced you through and inspired peace and tranquility.
Good to see you, young man. Why did you complain? - asked the old man.
My name is Semyon, I was walking in the forest and came across you. Who are you and what are you doing here?
My name is Noah. Come with me, I'll tell you everything.
Noah led Semyon to his building, sat him down on a bench under a canopy and began to talk. The more Noah spoke, the more interesting it was to listen to him. Semyon was surprised to find that he was receiving answers to questions that constantly arose in his mind. For example, why does this world look so uncomfortable and people seem so unkind? He listened to every word of the elder. True, now it no longer seemed to him as ancient as at first glance.
When Noah finished speaking, there was silence.
“You say interesting things, Noah,” Semyon finally said, barely hiding his excitement. - God, rain, flood, ark... Will no one be saved?
Stay with us, if you help us build, we will be saved together.
Is it possible?! - Semyon’s heart almost jumped out of his chest with joy.
Of course, if you really want to be saved.
Yes, I really want to! I don't like the world I live in. Just... Can I run home first and warn my people? Maybe they'll want to join in too!
Noah looked intently and sadly at Semyon.
Go, of course... But, I’m afraid you won’t come back here again.
No, I will definitely come! Together we will build the ark!
Semyon, inspired by the prospect of a new life, so real, rushed home, thinking as he went how best to tell Klava what happened to him. But the closer he got to home, the less enthusiasm and courage he had. A treacherous thought pierced my heart: “If I tell everything as it happened, they won’t believe me, they’ll call me crazy again. We need to present a more cunning case.”
Entering the house, Semyon shouted from the threshold:
Klava, I found a job!
Well, finally! I thought this would never happen. So what kind of work?
A carpenter. At Noah's.
Amazing. How much will he pay you?
Pay? Well... we haven't talked about that yet.
Why, you didn’t ask about the most important thing? Oh, Semyon, I’m no longer surprised by anything.
You see, this is an unusual job...
And Semyon frankly told everything that he had seen and heard from Noah. Practical Klava listened carefully to her husband and shook her head doubtfully:
And you think this is all true? Suppose it was indeed God who commanded Noah to build the ark. And all the same, the worker deserves a reward.
He should pay you for your work. This is what I think: go to our priest and consult with him. Maybe he knows something about this Noah.
Semyon did not like his wife’s advice, but he decided to please her and went to look for a priest. He rarely entered the temple, because there he experienced a mixed feeling of delight at the beauty of its decoration and bewilderment at the absurdity of what usually happened here. And now a certain solemn action was taking place in the temple, the cook Semyon did not understand the meaning. He waited until the end and, when the people had dispersed, he turned to the priest in a magnificent robe. The priest listened to him attentively and spoke in a velvety bass:
It is very good, my son, that you are so interested in the will of God, for only its fulfillment contributes to our good. But be careful, for Satan is cunning and walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. He takes the form of an angel of light and is therefore easily mistaken for a servant of God. Look,” and he raised his hand to the magnificently painted dome, “the Lord God is here with us.”
I don’t think you have to wander through forests and swamps to find Him. Better come here. Here in God's house you will gain true knowledge. And the truth is that God is love. How could you believe that the One who created such a beautiful world would destroy it with a flood? This is a heresy, son, a dangerous heresy. And you better not tell anyone about this... what's his name? Yes... Noah... We care about unity here, but this... uh... Noah brings anxiety and division into society. Is it God's will for there to be strife among His children? Well, that's the same. Go. And come to the service next week. God bless you.
Semyon got upset and walked away, thinking heavy thoughts. What if the priest is right? And his dreams of a new life are stupidity, and Noah is a dangerous eccentric? Suddenly he was brought out of his thoughts by a heavy blow on the shoulder.
Hello old man! Why are you walking, hanging your head, not noticing your friends? How are you?
Semyon looked up and saw Arkashka, an old friend, we studied together at school.
What's wrong with you? You don't look like yourself. What happened? Semyon looked at Arkashka - so prosperous, respectable, moving in the highest spheres. Educated. Seems to be an expert in public relations. Maybe consult him? And he told about Noah. He also mentioned the conversation with his wife and the priest.
It’s interesting,” thoughtful Arkashka thought, “this Noah of yours is a strange person.” Well, just think about it, why build a ship in a deep forest, where there is not even a sea or a small river?! If he is as kind as you say, it would be better if he built a hospital or a soup kitchen - there are so many people in need today! Who needs his ark? Besides, brother, remember what we were taught at school: water cannot fall from the sky, it is contrary to the laws of nature. So no flood is simply impossible. And if anything happens, scientists would warn us. In general, throw nonsense out of your head and live like everyone else normal people. Although it is difficult for you, I know you, a dreamer. But try your best, you have a family! Well, bye, friend, I have to go. I was glad to meet you. Hello wife.
Semyon was completely saddened and headed home, although the last thing he wanted was to see his wife now. Opening the door, I heard voices. Guests! Their beloved grandfather visited them - what a surprise!
“Hello, Semyon,” grandfather hugged him. - So, I decided to see how you live here. Klava told me about your adventures. Could this really be Noah? I met him... Let me remember... About fifty or sixty years ago he walked the streets of our city and preached. He called on everyone to repent, otherwise, they say, God will send rain from the sky, and it will be destroyed by water. Well, have you ever seen rain? Noah, let me tell you, is a fanatic. Or a sick person. Which, however, is the same thing. I don’t think you need to communicate with him, much less work for him. I'm sure you can find yourself good job here in the city.
Grandfather’s words destroyed the remnants of Semyon’s faith. And he resigned himself to the idea that he should not return to Noah.
Days passed, weeks flew by. Semyon began to forget about the amazing meeting in the forest. He found a job and tried to “live like other people.” And only sometimes in his dreams did he see radiant eyes, Noah's all-knowing and kind gaze. When he woke up, he forbade himself to think about this madman. And the reproachful dream visited him less and less often.
One day, when Semyon came home from work, his wife greeted him from the doorway with a question:
Have you heard what people are talking about?
No, what happened?
Everyone is talking about Noah and his ark!
Why did they remember him? Aren't you tired of gossiping about a crazy fanatic with delusional ideas? Is that what they say?
No, listen, people saw that the forest animals, and the field, and the birds were gathering together and going, flying there, to him, to his clearing!
Animals? To the clearing to Noah? Is it really true...
Semyon, let's ask our neighbor what he thinks about all this? He is a learned man.
Yes, the event, frankly speaking, is extraordinary,” the learned neighbor scratched his head. - This doesn’t happen often, although it is theoretically possible. When the moon enters the fourth phase, a strong magnetic field is created, enhanced by the special arrangement of the constellations, and this has a specific effect on the brains of animals, so that they become inclined to cluster together and migrate. Well, the fact that they moved towards the clearing of the ark was most likely a mere coincidence. Yes, the phenomenon has been little studied, but I think over time we will figure it out. So sleep well, neighbors.
But Semyon could not sleep that night. As soon as it was dawn, he got up and went into the forest to Noah. I made my way through the thicket for a long time and finally came to the place - here it is, the ark! But what is it? Silence, not a soul around - no people, no animals, no birds are visible... The construction seems to be completed, and the huge door leading to the ark is tightly closed.
Semyon became scared. What would all this mean? Maybe Noah came to his senses, abandoned his ridiculous idea and went to the city? Semyon turned back to look for Noah and his family. His heart was heavy. What if he doesn't find them in the city? What if they had already locked themselves in the ark in anticipation of the flood? Semyon looked at the sky - it was clear, the sun was shining brightly. Will water really come from there? It's all strange!
The next morning the sun was shining again. Forecasters did not promise any changes in the weather. And the next day the weather was also good. Seven days passed, clear and fine. Semyon gradually calmed down and stopped thinking about Noah and his ark, when suddenly a dark spot appeared in the sky. People ran out into the street to gawk at the unusual atmospheric phenomenon. The wind grew stronger, and soon the sky became cloudy. The first drops began to fall from the sky. People raised their heads, trying to understand what was happening, pushing and fussing. Suddenly someone remembered Noah. People shouted in despair:
It's a flood!
A wave flashed through the crowd: “Noah, the ark...”
Panic began. Many rushed into the forest. Among them was Semyon.
It was difficult to run - hurricane wind knocked me down. When people reached the clearing, the raindrops turned into downpour. It became difficult to breathe. Entire lakes had already overflowed in the lowlands, and the water continued to rise; here and there, fountains of water with mud and stones began to gush out from under the ground. The ark stood like an island in the middle of the waves, and people tried to climb onto it, but there was nothing to cling to, and they fell into the water. “Noah, take us to your place!” - they called for help. But the door of the ark was tightly slammed, no one was in a hurry to save them. Semyon, escaping from the water, climbed a tall tree at the edge of the clearing. He saw how the ark came to life, the water tore it off the ground and carried it away. Swinging majestically on the raging waves, Noah's giant ship was moving away, caught by the wind. Water and wind tore the tree to which Semyon was clinging from the ground. The last thing Semyon managed to think was: “What I was most afraid of happened to me.”
– Electricity bills have jumped again. There has been no hot water for three weeks now. The radiators in all the rooms have been barely warm for four years.
- Dear, this is all clear, but please explain to me, what is your fault?
- Stop, I’m not saying that I’m to blame for anything!
“Then why on earth did you, precious one, come to me?” I deal only with those people who do not deny their guilt. After all, I am not a Soviet-era house manager, I am an archpriest.
Have you ever encountered the sacrament called confession? Mentioned above - true story, which the Orthodox priest told me. This plump man, every centimeter of whose cassock literally radiates complacency, serves the cause of God in my native Dnieper region.
I can assure you, I would not write what you are reading now - no. The reason for this is an involuntary curiosity. Misunderstandings in confession are such because they never happen again.
Cases when people visit the temple, as if to the Strasbourg court, have turned into a certain pattern and resemble not jokes, but a thorough sociological study.
What is confession?
This is hard labor. One of the recognized figures in this field once said: “Looking at myself in the mirror, I see in front of me the girl whom Chekhov described in his story “I want to sleep!” Year after year, decade after decade, I try to lull a naughty and capricious baby who, tossing and turning in bed, still does not fall asleep. And he will never sleep. You’re sure of it, but you still sing him a lullaby.”
- Listen, father, our village has lost its last school, for me, this is a great sin!
– Of course, but this sin is not on you, but on the state.
– And you know something else. Since January of this year they took it and cut the subsidy. And the children's therapist, such a bastard, transferred to the regional center, and now I take my granddaughter eighty kilometers away. Electric trains are idle because of the “fucking” Korean trains - you have to get there on an old Ikarus, and it’s a ten-hour journey. In addition, firewood has become more expensive.
“Well, I’m very sorry, but are we going to repent of our sins or not?”
I have been observing Ukraine for quite some time, and the further I go, the more whimsical the lines of human claims look. To some extent, I was lucky to find a time when a person could directly contact the local administration and hope, if not for a quick resolution of his difficulties, then at least for sympathy.
Believe it or not, even those in power in the regional centers did not hide behind the turnstiles and the security service - whoever needs it, come in, cry, complain, threaten. Naturally, the secretary would block the way to the main one with her size four breasts, but he could have been caught at least in the corridor.
Is something bothering you?
Great, write an official statement, receive a response, no less official, notification. I don’t like the answer - yes, for God’s sake, there are a lot of ways to “sprinkle” an official message. Anywhere – to the regional administration, to Kyiv, to the Verkhovna Rada, to Mr. Poroshenko’s administration, to the “native” prosecutor’s office, to the regional prosecutor’s office, to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Only the Lord is not satisfied with officialdom; a sincere request is enough for Him. Write anywhere, the result is always the same: your appeal will be sent to the local administration with the obligatory instruction to sort everything out. But from now on, even in some urban settlement Dorofeevka there is a “duty guard” at the entrance, as if in a district police department, as well as a turnstile that has set teeth on edge.
And the head does not even appear on the porch: a “back door”, an alley and his own car with a pot-bellied driver are prepared for him.
By the way, about Dorofeevka. One day, an official of the Investigative Committee, Vladimir Zubkov, and his investigators came there. The doors to the reception room opened. You should have seen the people who came there with their complaints. A whole crowd had gathered in front of the duty room and the turnstile.
I became an involuntary witness to what they were saying, and I felt sorry not so much for the so-called walkers, but for Zubkov’s “sledaks”. Do you know why? There were about five to ten locals, that is, “Dorofeevskys,” there.
But five hundred people from Western, Eastern and Central Ukraine came to this outback. There was even some “packed” guy from the suburbs of Kyiv who arrived in a “trump” BMW. Some people missed out on their pensions, some had their blood business “chopped off”, and some were imprisoned for no reason.
These people gathered here for one reason - where they came from, there were no resources left, and there was no faith even in Kyiv, which was littered with papers. Here are normal and lively guys from the investigative committee. What if they take it and help out? Even if they fail, you can at least see something from people in their eyes.
In short, the young investigators got the role of clergy, forced to bear the sins of their native state. Wiping beads of sweat from their foreheads, they stoically listened to the visitors, even the frankly crazy ones, offered them to leave all the necessary papers, and said something like a prayerful parting word: “Don’t worry so much, we will definitely sort everything out.”
Of course, most of these cases “safely” returned to where they “started” from, that is local authorities The authorities “had the good fortune” to limit themselves to just one more formal reply. Tell me, what would you do if you were these investigators? Would you feel like human rights defenders?
Destroying hopes
I have been watching this ceremony of destruction of hopes for twenty years now. And I happened to see this ritual so often that everything that happens resembles a banal plot when an electrician rapes a housewife.
After some time, such “electricians” appear in Ukraine, and their names are those who stand up for human rights, regional representatives of the president, all these people in two thousand dollar suits organize receptions for ordinary people.
And these mere mortals are raped by men and women who come with their troubles and problems, and the boys and girls whom God put to work as investigators try to at least change something, but to no avail, and they become one of those who have once again failed hopes of the population.
Now clergymen act as “electricians”. Only today they receive their assignment not from Heaven, but from the very bottom. Loaders, security guards, managers come to them and their whole appearance says: “Who, if not you?”
However, God is not the regional administration. He lowers our complaints and prayers below the local white houses - to where the current government lives, that is, you and me. “What about our sins, will we repent, or will we wait a little longer?” I am sure that this is where the supply of hot water begins, a normal therapist at the local clinic and truly railway for trains.
God bless you!
2016, . All rights reserved.
Orthodox writer Valentina Ivanovna Tsvetkova was born in 1936 in the village. Nikolskoye, Saratov region. Later she moved to study in Samara. A teacher by training, she had direct contact with children for many years. And this is felt in her stories. Knowledge of child psychology allowed Valentina Ivanovna to write her stories in a language that children can easily and naturally understand. Therefore, her works are read with interest not only by children, but also by adults, because in essence, we are all, to some extent, big children.
V.I. Tsvetkova has collaborated with various Orthodox newspapers, in particular with the Samara “Blagovest” and the Ryazan “Blagovest”. She has lived in Ryazan since 1999 and continues to work on new works, which we hope will soon be published.
Wonderful
Granny, please buy me some markers today,” Vitya asked his grandmother in the morning.
“I’ll buy it,” she answered, tying a scarf on her head.
Well then, grandma, let's go quickly!
Wait, Vitenka, I’ll take the pies out of the oven and treat Agafya Semyonovna on the way.
Ah, this is the one who always sits in the same place, and whoever doesn’t approach her bows low to everyone, even if I walk and don’t give her anything. The boys and I deliberately walked past her several times, and each time she stood up and bowed. Something wonderful!
But this should not be done! - Grandma got angry. - Firstly, she is my first teacher, and secondly, you yourself noticed that she does not bow for alms. You should have thought about this.
What do you think, she’s just wonderful. And they say she had a double-headed eagle.
Vitya, you misunderstood and are retelling it to others, and this is a sin. - Grandma, but that’s what everyone says.
And you keep quiet. After all, you haven’t seen it yourself, it’s better to listen to what I tell you about it. In those distant years, when I was little, students were not allowed to wear crosses. The teachers, of course, knew that we were wearing them, but tried not to notice. Our young teacher Agafya Semyonovna took the crosses off two girls and threw them into the corner. We were so scared, we thought the teacher would die right away. And she said: “You see, nothing happened!” And she continued teaching the lesson. After this incident, many lost their fear of the shrine. After some time, Agafya Semyonovna gave birth to a child. I saw him myself: instead of one head, he had two small heads. From then on, she seemed to close herself off from everyone, although she was among people and bowed to everyone passing by. And the Lord forgave her and even rewarded her with a gift. She sees on the head of everyone who passes by, as it were, a mark - what kind of person he is. And to those who knew her closely, Agafya Semyonovna said that we should greet each other with bows and honor God with bows. So that they bow before the icons several times a day.
Grandma, I’m ashamed to pass by her now.
And you give her a pie and bow too.
“She’ll see that I’m lying,” Vitya hesitated. - After all, I have markers, but I’m still asking for them.
Well, it’s good that he confessed.
This means that you no longer need to go to the store. And granny, come on, I’ll take the pie to her anyway. She will see that I am no longer lying!
Akathist
Sveta, Natasha and Lida came to the library to change spiritual books, and the adults asked them: “Did you read it so quickly?” The girls were embarrassed, but still asked: “Please give us a thick Bible to read.” - “It’s still early for you. “You’re still reading little,” said the head of the library, “we can give you about the lives of the saints.” And she herself holds an akathist to St. Nicholas in her hands. Lida, the girl is nearsighted, and keeps squinting when she tries to read something. Here she reads aloud from the akathist: “Rejoice, pleasant care for those who mourn...” To the surprise of the adults, Lida cited an incident to confirm these words. She spoke with such faith that her eyes shone with the sky.
When I was not yet in the world, one aunt bought a cow at the market and took it home. I must say that she lived in a distant village. The cow was skinny, at first it walked quietly, then it lay down in the middle of the road and didn’t want to walk. Aunt caressed her and whipped her, but she did not get up. Aunt cried and began to ask God. I remembered that we also need to call for an ambulance assistant - Nikolai: “Our assistant, saint of God Nikolai, help bring the cow home. I have children without a breadwinner-father. They are waiting for milk, but the cow dies.”
Auntie bursts into tears. God, seeing this, sent an old man. He comes towards me with a twig, he pats the cow, she gets up and walks away. When the old man began to leave, he said goodbye: “You, young lady, drive the cow into the courtyard of the last house, and whatever they give you there, take it, don’t refuse.”
That's exactly what she did. Two old women let her spend the night and fed her. And the cow was not left without food and drink.
The next morning they gave us a hotel for the trip. And the cow rested overnight and quickly ran home...
Her friends laugh at Lida: “You haven’t lived in the world yet, but you tell it as if you saw everything with your own eyes.” Lida smiled: “But it’s true! It was like that! The young woman is alive. This dear grandmother my, she told us everything. And St. Nicholas the Wonderworker herself did not forget, and she taught us to honor him. She and I read the akathist every Thursday.”
The girls chose books and left, and the adults were surprised by the deep faith, simplicity, sincerity and decided: “Let the children read the thick Bible, because they receive wisdom not from adults, but from the grace of God.”
Blind boy
This one was a long time ago. In the winter, in the evenings, our whole family sat on a large Russian stove. There were six of us children. It’s frosty outside, there’s a blizzard, the wind is humming in the chimney, but it’s so nice on the stove, warm from the bricks. If you want, lie down, if you want, sit. And so that they could see each other, they lit a lamp with a glass bubble in the shape of an elongated pear. And in the corner of the hut, in the most visible place, a lamp was burning in front of the icon. And everything is so cozy, joyful, calm, quiet. Who posted from pumpkin seeds“royal palace”, who simply cleaned them and ate them. The younger ones did this, and the older ones knitted lace, sorted wool and fluff. We so wanted to touch the fluff and fur with our hands and roll them into little balls, but we couldn’t. They are needed for socks and mittens. And the elders rolled the balls for us from cow wool, which is not suitable for use. The ball turned out well: it’s soft and bounces like rubber. And the cow enjoys being scratched. Well, that's it. We are sitting on the stove, but we are not silent. Mom sings a prayer quietly. “To the King of Heaven...” They always begin every business with her because the Holy Spirit is called upon to help. And then they tell stories one by one: scary ones, funny ones, and ones like this one, about a blind boy.
This boy was born sighted, but one day he became very ill and went blind.
At first no one had any idea, because he was still a baby and was crawling on the floor. And when his mother put a ball of wool next to him, the baby began to look for it with his little hands and did not find it. We went to the doctor, but it was too late. You get used to any grief, and you get used to your blind son.
But the Lord made him so wise that you would not immediately think that he was blind. The boy's eyes were clear, beautiful, open. He moved carefully, but reached the door without a wand. He himself went to the well to get water for the cow. That’s how they understood each other, like true friends. He took care of her bed: he carefully sorted out the straw so that there was not a pebble or a lump of dung. And he fed her fragrant hay with strawberries. Zorka chews hay, and the blind boy strokes her. The little cow will lie down, and he will sit down on her warm side and fall asleep next to her. Zorka will turn, sigh and warm him with warm steam. Mom is looking for her son, everyone is already getting ready for dinner, and she always finds the boy at Zorka’s side. One day dad announced: We’ll sell Zorka for meat. The blind boy quickly left the hut. Mom hears: someone is crying in the barn, telling someone something. She listened, looked closely, and it was her blind son praying to God for help so that Zorka would not be sold for meat. Then he hugged the cow by the neck and cried. But Zorka understands everything, but she can’t say anything, and from the huge cow eyes with long eyelashes, tears flow in streams. Mom saw all this, but said nothing. And at dinner, dad clarified: although Zorka does not give enough milk for such big family, but God willing, she will bring us a calf and add more milk. Everyone was happy, but most of all the blind son.
Jesus Prayer
The blind boy had other friends besides Zorka the cow. I will tell you about everyone in order. Dick the cat and Whitelegs the cat hovered around his feet all the time and never left. If in winter a blind boy went to see Zorka in the barn, they would wait for him at the doorstep. As soon as the door creaks, they immediately run to the boy as fast as they can. He liked to sit not on a chair, but on the floor. The cats were happy about this, rubbed their sides, purred, and sat on his legs. When the boy had something edible in his pocket, he took it out of his pocket, always blew it away from the crumbs, crossed himself and said: “Lord, bless!” That's what he always did. And then he ate it himself and gave the cats a piece.
If a blind boy got up at night to pray while everyone was sleeping, Dick and Whitelegs would find him and sit next to him, turning their faces to the icons. Everyone left together: the boy went to the stove to sleep (or in the summer on the floor), and the cats under the floor to scare the mice.
In the spring and summer, they went out with the boy and walked on either side of his feet. So the cats led the boy along the path to the well. The well was difficult, but necessary work. Sometimes we had to pull out up to two hundred buckets of water, because there was a lot of cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and everything else growing in the garden. The family is big.
And so the blind brother gets water from the well, and the younger sisters and brothers run races and pour it into their little beds and holes. It was always fun, the blind brother encouraged and praised the waterers for their good work.
And when the younger ones got tired and asked: “Will we finish soon?” To this he replied: “No, only half of it has been watered.” The waterers objected to him: “No, no, everyone was watered. You can’t see!” The blind boy, smiling, said: “I see, water your beds again, otherwise I hear them asking: drink, drink!” Children listen and even lay their ear to the garden bed and actually hear that the earth is “huffing” from the heat. Then they watered again, and the earth no longer asked for water. The blind boy suddenly announced to his sisters and brothers: “That’s it, take the last bucket and we’ll finish.” How did he know that the beds were saturated with water? It turns out that he was reading the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” He will prepare the stones in advance and place them at his feet. As soon as he pulls the bucket out of the well, he says a prayer, and throws away the pebble from his foot. When the pebbles run out, then all two hundred buckets of water are pulled out. This moisture is enough for the garden, but for the soul I read the prayer two hundred times. This is how the Lord made him wise: he, blind, protected us with his spiritual eyes.
Pea
Once a grandmother came to help her grandchildren sow peas. They were happy with her, because she always kind words spoke. Even dad became kinder, didn’t scold his children, and called grandma mom. It's so simple. “And where it’s simple, there are up to a hundred angels, and where it’s tricky, there’s not a single one,” says the grandmother. - Without an angel, as without a guide, it is impossible to find roads on an unknown path, much less enter the Kingdom of Heaven. There you need to go through three doors at the same time.” - “How is this possible, grandma? - the grandchildren ask, “Tell me!” - “It’s difficult, my dears. These doors are located one after another and open only for one moment. These doors are tall and heavy, and the person standing in front of them is like a small pea. He steps into the first one, and the second one immediately closes in front of him - and the person is trapped, in pitchless darkness. For a moment, all the doors open again, you step into the second door, and the front one closes... You can’t get through alone without help. So we need an assistant - an angel or a holy saint - to hold the doors and the person to run through them. Behind them is freedom, such a vastness that you can’t even glance at it.
There is a sloping mountain ahead, but you can’t see what’s behind it yet. If a person turns back, the doors are no longer there. Only he will clearly see his footprints, as in the snow. They are crooked and at random, straight and in circles. Go, brother-man, look ahead and say prayer all the time - then you will reach the Kingdom of Heaven.” - “Granny, are there any sweets in this kingdom?” - “What more! The person has no idea what awaits him there.”
Granddaughter Mashenka swallowed her saliva and felt the pocket with her pen - she really wanted candy. He sees that the grandmother is holding something in her mouth. “Grandma, please give me one piece of candy.” - “This is not candy, my dear, but a pea.” - “Why do you keep it in your mouth all the time?” - “I say a prayer - it means I say: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.” But the pea in your mouth gets in the way and reminds you: do good deeds and don’t forget prayer - together they will lead you to the Kingdom of Heaven. Just don’t stop.”
Granddaughter Mashenka put a pea in her mouth, took a basket in her hands and quickly went to plant it in order to keep up with her grandmother. After all, everyone must achieve the Kingdom of Heaven through their own labor.
Carousels
Granny, look at the striped beetle that flew into the window and is hitting the mirror,” said Nastya. “I drove him away with a handkerchief, but he didn’t fly away.”
This, granddaughter, he saw someone like himself and was carried away,” the grandmother answered with a smile.
Nastya and her little brother began to wave their arms and direct the beetle towards the window.
“He’s stubborn, like you, Vasya,” the girl got angry, “he’s flying towards the mirror again.”
And the grandmother lightly pressed the beetle and released it out the window. He flew and buzzed.
Nastenka and Vasya are happy - that means he’s alive. Granny, looking out the window, sighed:
Until someone enlightens and guides, the weak may die. Especially if he forgets the way back.
Granny, how can we find the way back? - Vasya asked.
According to signs, my good one. You have to hold on to them, like an invisible rope.
Is it like on a carousel? - Nastya clarified.
My good girl, you suggested very well. When you spin on a carousel, everything around you flashes quickly, it’s interesting and the height takes your breath away. But don’t forget to hold on to the rope - otherwise you may fall and get seriously hurt. Then you will forget about everything. And who is to blame? Himself, of course. I got carried away and forgot about the string and let it slip out of my hands. You will harm yourself and offend the good owner of the carousel. You promised him to hold on. And he tied the other end to himself and decided to show you all the beauty of heaven, so that you would strive there.
Grandma, our Vasya is afraid of heights,” Nastya said.
Grandmother smiled:
But he loves to pray to God and he has obedience. For this, our Creator will raise Vasya to great heights. And with the Lord God, nowhere is scary.
Can girls reach this height? - the granddaughter is interested.
Everything is possible, my sweeties. Just hold on to the rope, and don’t tear yourself away from the Creator God.
Granny, I understand. I will, like Vasya, pray and always obey my elders.
Grandmother crossed them and began to cry. The grandchildren were scared:
Granny, what's wrong with you?
Nothing, my dears. I am so glad that you understood everything so well.
“I believe” for the faithful
In the village everyone knows about each other: who went where and why... If I go to left side from the house, then to the club, and if to the right, then to the church.
That day I went to church, because it was the great holiday of the Nativity of Christ. I didn’t understand what they sang and read in the church, but I remembered for the rest of my life how candles were burning in everyone’s hands, how they sang in chorus, the whole church.
I felt solemn and joyful in my soul. Suddenly I heard someone quietly say: “Without people, the earth is an orphan.” These words of wisdom said blessed Nyurushka, or “the simple one,” as she was called in our village. I was amazed at how her face brightened when they sang “I Believe.” People were moved to tears when she told someone that they were “pleasing to God.” The man said: “Nyurushka, I am a sinner.” “But you’re still faithful,” she reassured. I liked this word: somehow reliable, happy. For myself, I concluded: if you are faithful, then you don’t need to wish for anything better.
When leaving the temple, I again heard a whisper:
Are you married, Nyurushka?
No no! I made a vow to God.
Take this pie... Maybe you have nothing at home...
What are you... That's a lump of butter. I never eat it on Wednesdays and Fridays, so it will last for a long time.
I don’t want to enjoy myself with the traitor Judas these days.
Then I thought: “That’s it! But I didn’t know that.”
Aunt Nyura, here's some candy for you. Pray for me.
You will be saved, son. “I Believe” I sang with the faithful. But give the prosphora to your neighbor, she is sick. Stay with God.
She bowed and left. These Nyurushki are the faithful, they are God’s Pleasers, and from them we are saved.
Live pictures
Nikita, today we will learn to write numbers, we need to get ready for school.
Dad, I already know them well. And he quickly wrote down the numbers of the first ten. His father gave him a three. Nikita approached Barsik to complain. The cat followed the numbers with his green eyes, then scratched the piece of paper with his paw and hid under the table.
Even Barsik noticed your mistake with the number six, in right side the curl is being written... Well, the reading lesson will be in the garden.
Dad moved his hand from left to right and somehow solemnly said:
This is all that you see, our Lord, the Creator, created, and everything is in this living book. Look carefully at everything,” dad continued, “notice, and in a small bug you will discover a miracle, because the Creator created everyone and everything for the common good. How can I explain it more clearly to you? For example, a mail beetle flies with an order, it’s not a difficult matter, right? But if the flight slows down arbitrarily and does not arrive on time, disaster will happen for everyone. Even morning may not come if the sun is late to rise. And the darkness will remain, the night will be eternal - scary! So I say, everyone must fulfill the will of the Creator impeccably and urgently. In this “living” book, a person needs to unravel a lot. Why does a tree grow in a garden? Find out, pick, eat. Why violet? different colors is it blooming? Why does the sunflower turn its head behind the sun? Some flowers close their petals tightly at night, like a padlock, and in the morning they invite bees to visit and collect pollen. And why doesn’t honey sour? But it is always sweet and fragrant, and yet it is not made by a person, but only by a bee insect. Know! That life was given to man on earth mainly for the purpose of solving these problems. Learn to distinguish the Master - the Creator Himself - from His counterfeits.
Nikita laughed: “How can you, dad, compare a living artist with some of his pictures - “daubs.” The artist will want to erase the picture or draw it again with wings or horns. What can a picture do for an artist? - The Creator? She herself can only fade and turn into aphids.”
Okay, son, you reason, I’ll be calm for you. And now you still have to love the Creator more than yourself. After all, He also made us, people. Don’t forget, our fatherland is Heaven. Be worthy of the Creator to be returned there! And life on earth is short, like a dream. Remember this, dear child! Just don’t get carried away by artificial pictures, because trouble came to people from them.
Mysterious clearing
On the road we met an old man, so handsome and attractive: thick white hair on his head, a thick, curly beard and greenish eyes with languid eyes. A good-natured, apologetic smile. He kept looking out the window and seemed to be calculating, calculating something in his mind, and then suddenly he perked up and called us to the window. “Look carefully,” said the old man, “remember everything you see in this place.”
We obeyed and began to closely examine the clearing from the train window and hastily informed him: “There is a horse grazing, a motley cow, a white goat, lilac bushes, birch trees, dandelions. And a very wide clearing, but no human habitation is visible.”
A little later the old man calmed down and told us a story...
“One day my horse brought me to this clearing. I was amazed by its beauty, silence and something else, inexplicable. I get off my horse and go, enjoying the contemplation of the wondrous beauty. And I stop in surprise: near my feet lies a nest of chicken eggs. There is no human habitation, but the chicken lives and lays eggs. Now, I think there will be scrambled eggs. I’m wondering where I should put them so they don’t break. And, without raising my head yet, out of the corner of my eye I see some kind of shadow. I look: it’s a girl! Speaks:
Don't take the eggs from the nest, otherwise you will deprive Velvet of her joy!
Where's the chicken? - I asked.
She'll come soon.
Who are you? - I asked her again.
I'm Maryushka. I take care of animals.
Who are you guarding?
Fry. He is more beautiful than your horse. I decided to argue with her: it couldn’t be more beautiful than my horse! She warned:
Malek will not come out of the thicket if he hears our conversation.
Where should I hide to look at him? At least with one eye. Maryushka said:
There's no need to hide. Keep your eyes open, just be silent, otherwise you'll scare them away.
I promised to remain silent. She called in a shrill, gentle voice:
And he immediately appeared from the thicket of the forest, with a silky long mane, with a swan neck... I froze with delight, and then whistled: “What a horse!” At the sound, Malek began to run headlong and disappeared into the thicket.
I began to explain to Maryushka: “You can’t keep such a handsome man alone, without friends.” She paused and replied:
- We are his friends!
And I mockingly:
Is it you with the chicken?
And Maryushka said without offense:
Well, why, there is also Kalinka.
Who else is this? - I asked, barely containing my irritation, because I was completely impressed by the wonderful horse.
And Maryushka, not noticing my inappropriate anger, told me that Kalinka had recently given birth to a daughter. She says and rejoices, and I keep looking at the forest to see if the horse will run out...
Well,” I urge the girl, “call your Kalinka, we’ll see her too.”
No! We must approach it ourselves.
I had to give in - let's go look. I saw a motley cow, Kalinka, with a calf that was swaying, standing on four legs, and they were moving apart in different directions. I thought: “What a miracle - a cow! What is there to admire here? Not a horse!”
And Maryushka, as if reading my thoughts, says:
She is an extraordinary cow - destitute and undeservedly punished. At the owner's house, she broke everything in her path, overturned it, and once ended up in the cellar herself. And the owner decided to get rid of her. And when we ran to this clearing, I took a closer look and realized: she turns out to be blind. The owners took pity, did not take her away from me, and Kalinka and I began to live in this clearing. She is an orphan and I am an orphan. The blind horse was also brought here, and we accept all the disadvantaged. We love each other. People call me a servant, a nun.
The old man asked with concern: “So, Maryushka still has a white goat?” - and continued:
“How do you live,” I asked her then.
God helps. He doesn’t forget about us, he consoles us and doesn’t give us offense. Our dugout is like a barn, but in our soul it’s heaven! When I sing a prayer, the angels sing along with me, and the aroma then is like in a garden in spring. You can't say it in words. And someone is lighting our dugout.
I asked Maryushka:
Does this happen often? She replied:
Always when the Lord Himself wishes. I asked:
Girl, pray for me! I'm full of sins. He set his foot on the holy place. Just as Moses was shown a burning thorn bush, so now, in the time of half-believers, it was revealed to me on whom the light stands!
Maryushka smiled and prayed. And at parting she punished me:
You pray yourself. The Lord will not save you without you.
That's all I know about her and I never forget...
You saw for yourself just now - Maryushka now has the goat.”
Grandfather fell silent. We, the “half-believers,” were very surprised and realized that our land was full of secrets.
Have you lost your place? How did this happen, son?
I think, mom, that this happened solely due to my negligence. I was wiping the dust in the store and wiping it very hastily. At the same time, he hit several glasses, they fell and broke. The owner became very angry and said that he could no longer tolerate my unbridled behavior. I packed my things and left.
Mother was very concerned about this.
Don't worry mom, I'll find another job. But what should I say when they ask why I left my previous relationship?
Always tell the truth, Jacob. You're not thinking of saying anything different, are you?
No, I don't think so, but I thought about hiding it. I'm afraid that by telling the truth, I'll hurt myself.
If a person does the right thing, then nothing can harm him, even if it seems so.
But Jacob found it more difficult to find a job than he thought. He searched for a long time and finally seemed to have found it. One young man in a beautiful new store was looking for a delivery boy. But everything in this store was so neat and clean that Jacob thought that he would not be hired with such a recommendation. And Satan began to tempt him to hide the truth.
After all, this store was in a different area, far from the store where he worked, and no one here knew him. Why tell the truth? But he defeated this temptation and directly told the store owner why he left the previous owner.
“I prefer to have decent young people around me,” said the store owner good-naturedly, “but I’ve heard that those who recognize their mistakes leave them behind.” Maybe this misfortune will teach you to be more careful.
Yes, of course, master, I will try my best to be careful,” Jacob said seriously.
Well, I like a boy who tells the truth, especially when it can hurt him... Good afternoon, uncle, come in! - last words he spoke to the man who came in, and when Jacob turned around, he saw his former master.
“Oh,” he said when he saw the boy, “do you want to take this boy as a messenger?”
I haven't accepted it yet.
Take it completely calmly. Just be careful that he doesn’t spill the liquid goods, and that he doesn’t pile the dry goods all in one heap,” he added, laughing. - In all other respects you will find him quite reliable. But if you don’t want to, then I’m ready to take him again with a trial period.
No, I’ll take it,” said the young man.
Oh mom! - Jacob said when he came home. - You're always right. I got this place there because I told the whole truth. What would happen if my previous owner came in and I told a lie?
Truthfulness is always best,” answered the mother.
“Truthful lips endure forever” (Prov. 12:19)
Boy student's prayer
Some years ago in a large factory there were many young workers, many of whom said they were converted. One of these latter included one fourteen-year-old boy, the son of a believing widow.
This teenager soon attracted the boss's attention with his obedience and eagerness to work. He always completed his work to the satisfaction of his boss. He had to bring and deliver mail, sweep the workroom and perform many other small tasks. Cleaning the offices was his first duty every morning.
Since the boy was accustomed to precision, he could always be found at exactly six o'clock in the morning already working.
But he had another wonderful habit: he always began his working day with prayer. When one morning, at six o'clock, the owner entered his office, he found the boy on his knees praying.
He quietly went out and waited outside the door until the boy came out. He apologized and said that he woke up late today, and there was no time for prayer, so here, in the office, before the start of the working day, he knelt down and surrendered to the Lord for the whole day.
His mother taught him to always start the day with prayer, so as not to spend this day without God's blessing. He took advantage of the moment when no one was there yet to be a little alone with his Lord and ask for His blessings for the coming day.
Reading the Word of God is just as important. Don't miss it! Today you will be offered so many books, both good and bad!
Perhaps there are those among you who have a strong desire to read and know? But are all books good and useful? My dear friends! Be careful when choosing books!
Luther always praised those who read christian books. Give preference to these books too. But above all, read God's dear Word. Read with prayer, for it is more valuable than gold and pure gold. It will strengthen you, preserve you and encourage you at all times. This is the Word of God, which endures forever.
The philosopher Kant said about the Bible: “The Bible is a book whose content speaks of the divine principle. It tells the history of the world, the history of Divine providence from the very beginning and even to eternity. The Bible was written for our salvation. It shows us in what relationship we stand with a righteous, merciful God, reveals to us the full magnitude of our guilt and the depth of our fall, and the height of divine salvation. The Bible is my dearest treasure, without it I would perish. Live according to the Bible, then you will become citizens of the heavenly Fatherland!
Brotherly love and compliance
Cold winds blew. Winter was approaching.
Two little sisters were getting ready to go to the store to buy bread. The eldest, Zoya, had an old shabby fur coat, the youngest, Gale, her parents bought a new, larger one for her growth.
The girls really liked the fur coat. They started getting dressed. Zoya put on her old fur coat, but the sleeves were short, the fur coat was too tight for her. Then Galya says to her sister: “Zoe, put on my new fur coat, it’s too big for me. You wear it for a year, and then I wear it, you also want to wear a new fur coat.”
The girls exchanged fur coats and went to the store.
Little Galya fulfilled the commandment of Christ: “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 13:34).
She really wanted to wear a new fur coat, but she gave it up to her sister. What tender love and compliance!
Is this how you kids treat each other? Are you ready to give up something pleasant and dear to your brothers and sisters? Or maybe it's the other way around? It is often heard among you: “This is mine, I won’t give it back!”
Believe me, how many troubles arise when there is no compliance. How many disputes, quarrels, what bad character is then produced by you. Is this the character of Jesus Christ? It is written about Him that He grew up in love with God and men.
Is it possible to say about you that you are always compliant, gentle with your family, brothers and sisters, with friends and acquaintances?
Take the example of Jesus Christ and these two sisters - Zoya and Galya, who love each other with tenderness, for it is written:
"Be kind to one another with brotherly love" (Rom. 12:10)
Forget-me-not
All of you children have probably seen in the summer in the grass a small blue flower called forget-me-not. About this little flower they tell a lot of interesting stories; They say that angels, flying over the earth, drop blue flowers on it so that people do not forget about heaven. That is why these flowers are called forget-me-nots.
There is another legend about the forget-me-not: it happened a long time ago, in the first days of creation. Paradise had just been created, and beautiful, fragrant flowers bloomed for the first time. The Lord Himself, walking through paradise, asked the flowers their name, but one little blue flower, directing its golden heart to God in admiration and not thinking about anything but Him, forgot its name and became embarrassed. The tips of its petals turned red from shame, and the Lord looked at him with a gentle gaze and said: “Because you forgot yourself for My sake, I will not forget you. From now on, call yourself forget-me-not and let people, looking at you, also learn to forget about themselves.” for my sake".
Of course, this story is a human fiction, but the truth in it is that forgetting about yourself for the sake of love for God and your neighbors is great happiness. Christ taught us this, and in this He was our example. Many people forget this and seek happiness away from God, but there are people who spend their entire lives serving their neighbors with love.
All their talents, all their abilities, all their means - everything they have, they use to serve God and people, and, forgetting themselves, they live in the world of God for others. They bring into life not quarrels, anger, destruction, but peace, joy, order. Just as the sun warms the earth with its rays, so they warm the hearts of people with their affection and love.
Christ showed us on the cross how to love, forgetting ourselves. He is happy who gives his heart to Christ and follows His example.
Don’t you, children, want to not only remember the Risen Christ, His love for us, but, forgetting about ourselves, show Him love in the person of our neighbors, try to help with deed, word, prayer to everyone and everyone who needs help; try to think not about yourself, but about others, about how to be useful in your family. We will try to support each other in good deeds prayer. May God help us in this.
“Do not forget also to do good and to communicate for others, for such sacrifices are acceptable to God” (Heb. 13:16)
Little artists
One day the children were given the task: imagining themselves to be great artists, to draw a picture from the life of Jesus Christ.
The task was completed: each of them mentally drew one or another landscape from the Holy Scriptures. One of them painted a picture of a boy enthusiastically giving Jesus all he had - five loaves of bread and two fish (John 6:9). Others talked about many other things.
But one boy said:
I cannot paint one picture, but only two. Let me do this. He was allowed, and he began: “A raging sea. The boat in which Jesus is with the twelve disciples is flooded with water. The disciples are in despair. They are in danger of imminent death. A huge wave is approaching from the side, ready to overturn and flood the boat without fail. I would draw only the disciples , turning their faces to the advancing terrible wave of water. Others covered their faces with their hands. But Peter’s face is clearly visible: despair, horror, and confusion.
Where is Jesus? At the stern of the boat, where the steering wheel is. Jesus sleeps peacefully. The face was serene.
There would be nothing calm in the picture: everything would be raging, foaming in the spray. The boat would either rise to the crest of the wave or sink into the abyss of the waves.
Jesus alone would be calm. The students' excitement was inexpressible. Peter in despair shouts through the noise of the waves: “Teacher, we are perishing, but You have no need!”
This is one picture. Second picture: “Dungeon. The Apostle Peter is chained with two chains, sleeping between the soldiers. Sixteen guards are guarding Peter. Peter’s face is clearly visible. He sleeps calmly, although a sharpened sword is already prepared to cut off his head. He knew about this. His face resembles Whom -That".
Let's hang the first picture next to it. Look at the face of Jesus. Peter's face is the same as His. There is a stamp of peace on them. A dungeon, a guard, a sentence for execution - the same raging sea. The sharpened sword is the same formidable shaft, ready to interrupt Peter’s life. But on the face of the Apostle Peter there is no former horror and despair. He learned from Jesus. It is necessary to put these pictures together,” the boy continued, “and make one inscription over them: “For you must have the same feelings that were in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5).
One of the girls also talked about two paintings. The first picture “Christ is being crucified: the disciples are standing in the distance. On their faces they have grief, fear and horror. Why? - Christ is being crucified. He will die on the cross. They will never see Him again, they will never hear His gentle voice, they will never look again the kind eyes of Jesus are upon them... never again will He be with them.”
That's what the disciples thought. But everyone who reads the Gospel will say: “Didn’t Jesus say to them: “For a little while the world will not see Me, but you will see Me, for I live, and you will live” (John 14:19).
Did they remember at that moment what Jesus said about his resurrection after death? Yes, the disciples forgot this and therefore there was fear, grief and horror on their faces and in their hearts.
And here is the second picture.
Jesus with his disciples on the mountain called Olivet, after His Resurrection. Jesus ascends to His Father. Let's look at the faces of the students. What do we see on their faces? Peace, joy, hope. What happened to the students? Jesus leaves them, they will never see Him on earth! And the students are happy! All this because the disciples remembered the words of Jesus: “I go to prepare a place for you. And when I have prepared a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself” (John 14:2-3).
Let's hang two pictures side by side and compare the faces of the students. In both paintings, Jesus is leaving the disciples. So why are the students' faces different? Only because in the second picture the disciples remember Jesus' words. The girl ended her story with the appeal: “Let us always remember the words of Jesus.”
Tanya's answer
One day at school, during a lesson, the teacher was having a conversation with second grade students. She told the children a lot and for a long time about the Earth and about distant stars; she also talked about flying spaceships with a person on board. At the same time, she said in conclusion: “Children! Our cosmonauts rose high above the earth, to an altitude of 300 km and flew in space for a long, long time, but they did not see God, because He does not exist!”
Then she turned to her student, a little girl who believed in God, and asked:
Tell me, Tanya, do you now believe that there is no God? The girl stood up and calmly answered:
I don’t know how much 300 km is, but I know for sure that only “the pure in heart will see God” (Matt. 5:8).
Waiting for an answer
The young mother lay dying. Having completed the procedures, the doctor and his assistant retired to the next room. Putting away his medical instrument, he, as if talking to himself, said in a low voice:
Well, we’re done, we did everything we could.
The eldest daughter, one might say, still a child, stood not far away and heard this statement. Crying, she turned to him:
Mister Doctor, you said you did everything you could. But mom didn’t get better, and now she’s dying! But we haven’t tried everything yet,” she continued. - We can turn to Almighty God. Let's pray and ask God to heal mom.
The unbelieving doctor, of course, did not follow this proposal. The child fell to his knees in despair and cried out in prayer in his spiritual simplicity as best he could:
Lord, I ask You, heal my mother; the doctor did everything he could, but You, Lord, are a great and good Doctor, You can heal her. We need her so much, we cannot do without her, dear Lord, heal her in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Some time passed. The girl remained on her knees as if in oblivion, not moving or getting up from her place. Noticing the child’s immobility, the doctor turned to the assistant:
Take the child away, the girl is fainting.
“I’m not fainting, Mr. Doctor,” the girl objected, “I’m waiting for an answer!”
She offered up her childhood prayer in full faith and trust in God, and now remained on her knees, awaiting an answer from the One who said: “Will God not protect His chosen ones, who cry to Him day and night, although He is slow to protect them? I tell you that He will give they will be protected soon" (Luke 18:7-8). And whoever trusts in God, God will not leave him ashamed, but will certainly send help from above at the right time and at the right time. And in this difficult hour, God did not hesitate to answer - the mother’s face changed, the patient calmed down, looked around her with a look filled with peace and hope, and fell asleep.
After several hours of restorative sleep, she woke up. The loving daughter immediately clung to her and asked:
Isn't it true, mommy, you feel better now?
Yes, my dear,” she answered, “I feel better now.”
I knew you would feel better, Mom, because I was waiting for an answer to my prayer. And the Lord answered me that He will heal you.
The mother's health was restored again, and today she is a living witness of God's power overcoming illness and death, a witness of His love and faithfulness in hearing the prayers of believers.
Prayer is the breath of the soul,
Prayer is light in the darkness of the night,
Prayer is the hope of the heart,
Brings peace to the sick soul.
God listens to this prayer:
Heartfelt, sincere, simple;
He hears her, accepts her
And the holy world pours into the soul.
Baby's gift
“When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3).
I want to give you something for pagan children! Having opened the package, I found ten coins there.
Who gave you so much money? Dad?
No,” the kid answered, “neither dad knows, nor my left hand...
How so?
Yes, you yourself preached this morning that you need to give in such a way that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing... That’s why I left hand I kept it in my pocket all the time.
Where did you get the money from? - I asked, unable to hold back my laughter any longer.
I sold Minko, my dog, whom I loved very much... - and at the memory of his friend, tears clouded the baby’s eyes.
When I spoke about this at the meeting, the Lord gave us a rich blessing."
Modesty
In one harsh and hungry time there lived a kind, rich man. He was sympathetic to starving children.
One day he announced that every child who came to him at noon would receive a small loaf of bread.
About 100 children of all ages responded. They all arrived at the appointed time. The servants brought out a large basket filled with loaves of bread. The children greedily attacked the basket, pushing each other away and trying to grab the largest bun.
Some thanked, others forgot to thank.
Standing aside, this kind person watched what was happening. A little girl standing off to the side caught his attention. As the last one, she got the smallest bun.
The next day he tried to restore order, but this girl was again the last. He also noticed that many children immediately took a bite of their bun, while the little one took it home.
The rich man decided to find out what kind of girl she was and who her parents were. It turned out that she was the daughter of poor people. She also had a little brother with whom she shared her bun.
The rich man ordered his baker to put a thaler in the smallest loaf.
The next day the girl's mother came and brought the coin back. But the rich man said to her:
Your daughter behaved so well that I decided to reward her for her modesty. From now on, with every small loaf you will receive a coin. Let her be your support during this difficult time.
The woman thanked him from the bottom of her heart.
The children somehow found out about the rich man’s generosity towards the baby, and now some of the boys tried to get the smallest bun. One succeeded, and he immediately found the coin. But the rich man said to him:
With this I rewarded the little girl for always being the most modest, and for the fact that she always shared a bun with her younger brother. You are the most ill-mannered, and I have not yet heard words of gratitude from you. Now you will not receive bread for a whole week.
This lesson benefited not only this boy, but also everyone else. Now no one forgot to say thank you.
The baby stopped receiving a thaler in a bun, but the kind man continued to support her parents throughout the hungry time.
Sincerity
God gives good luck to the sincere. Famous George Washington, the first president of the North American free states, surprised everyone with his fairness and sincerity from childhood. When he was six years old, his father gave him a small hatchet for his birthday, which George was very happy about. But, as is often the case with many boys, now every wooden object in his path had to test his hatchet. One fine day he showed his art on a young cherry tree in his father’s garden. One blow was enough to forever render in vain all hopes of her recovery.
The next morning, the father noticed what had happened and determined from the tree that it had been destroyed maliciously. He imprisoned him himself, and therefore decided to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the attacker. He promised five gold coins to anyone who would help identify the tree’s destroyer. But it was all in vain: he couldn’t even find a trace, so he was forced to go home dissatisfied.
On the way he met little George with his hatchet in his hands. Instantly the thought occurred to the father that his son could also be a criminal.
George, do you know who cut down our beautiful cherry tree in the garden yesterday? - full of dissatisfaction, he turned to him.
The boy thought for a moment - it seemed as if there was a struggle going on inside him - then he frankly admitted:
Yes, dad, you know, I can’t lie, no, I can’t. I did this with my hatchet.
Come into my arms,” the father exclaimed, “come to me.” Your frankness is more valuable to me than a cut down tree. You have already repaid me for it. It is commendable to confess frankly, even if you have done something shameful or wrong. The truth is more valuable to me than a thousand cherries with silver leaves and golden fruits.
Steal, deceive
Mom had to go away for a while. When leaving, she punished her children - Mashenka and Vanyusha:
Be obedient, don't go out, play well and don't do anything wrong. I'll be back soon.
Mashenka, who was already ten years old, began to play with her doll, while Vanyusha, an active six-year-old child, busied himself with his blocks. He soon got tired of it, and he began to think about what to do now. His sister did not let him go outside because his mother did not allow him. Then he decided to quietly take an apple from the pantry, to which the sister said:
Vanyusha, the neighbor will see through the window that you are carrying an apple from the pantry and will tell your mother that you stole it.
Then Vanyusha went to the kitchen, where there was a jar of honey. Here the neighbor could not see him. With great pleasure he ate several spoons of honey. Then he closed the jar again so that no one would notice that someone was feasting on it. Soon the mother returned home, gave the children a sandwich, then all three went into the forest to collect brushwood. They did this almost every day to have a supply for the winter. The children loved these walks in the forest with their mother. On the way she used to tell them interesting stories. And this time she told them cautionary tale, but Vanyusha was surprisingly silent and did not ask, as usual, many questions, so his mother even worriedly inquired about his health. Vanyusha lied, saying that his stomach hurt. However, his conscience condemned him, because now he not only stole, but also deceived.
When they came to the forest, mother showed them the place where they could collect brushwood, and the tree to which they were supposed to take it. She herself went deeper into the forest, where larger dry branches could be found. Suddenly a thunderstorm began. Lightning flashed and thunder roared, but mom was not around. The children hid from the rain under a wide spreading tree. Vanyusha was very tormented by his conscience. With every clap of thunder it seemed to him that God was threatening him from heaven:
He stole, he deceived!
It was so terrible that he confessed to Mashenka what he had done, as well as his fear of God’s punishment. His sister advised him to ask God for forgiveness and confess everything to his mother. Then Vanyusha knelt down in the rain-wet grass, folded his hands and, looking at the sky, prayed:
Dear Savior. I stole and deceived. You know this, for You know everything. I'm very sorry about this. I ask you to forgive me. I won't steal or cheat anymore. Amen.
He rose from his knees. His heart felt so light - he was sure that God had forgiven his sins. When the worried mother returned, Vanyusha joyfully ran out to meet her and shouted:
My beloved Savior forgave me for stealing and deceiving. Please forgive me too.
Mom could not understand anything from what was said. Then Mashenka told her everything that happened. Of course, my mother also forgave him everything. For the first time, without her help, Vanyusha confessed everything to God and asked Him for forgiveness. Meanwhile, the storm subsided and the sun shone again. All three went home with bundles of brushwood. Mom again told them a story similar to Vanyushina’s, and memorized a short poem with the children: No matter what I was or did, God sees me from heaven.
Much later, when Vanyusha already had his own family, he told his children about this incident from his childhood, which made such an impression on him that he never stole or lied again.