Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Learning for Life (08/23/04)
|
TITLE: Knowledge in Nature By Kristee Pittman 08/25/04 |
 LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
SEND ARTICLE TO A FRIEND
|
The clouds broke, and the sun peeked out.
“Daddy, why is there a sun?”
“Because God knew we would need it. Without the sun’s light, it would be cold and dark all the time, and no one would be able to stay alive.”
“God put it there for us?”
The naturalist nodded.
After a while, the girl stopped in front of a fallen tree.
“Daddy, what keeps the other trees from falling down like this one?”
“Well,” the naturalist sat down on the log. “Trees have long roots that grow underground to keep them standing straight and tall even when strong winds push them. But if the roots get rotted or if they stop getting water to drink, then the tree won’t be able to stand up against the wind.”
“And it will fall over?”
“Yes.”
“Like this one?”
“Yes, like this one.”
“Do people have roots to keep them from falling?”
The naturalist smiled. “Sort of. If people love and trust God a lot, he gives them roots that will help them stay strong in life. You can’t see them, but they keep things in life from knocking you over.”
They walked some more. The girl pointed to a cardinal singing in a tree.
“Daddy, why are birds always so happy?”
“Because they don’t worry about things. They don’t get stressed out or overworked. They let each day take care of itself.”
The girl picked up a rock and put it in her pocket. “Is that why some people aren’t always happy? Because they worry about stuff?”
“Yes, people don’t realize that God takes care of everything. They don’t remember that all they have to do is focus on one day at a time.”
They continued walking; the girl continued seeing things, and her father continued teaching his daughter about nature. As they walked home, the girl held a feather in one hand and with the other hand, she held on to her father.
“Daddy?” She asked as she put her treasures on the nature shelf in the living room. “Do you think people know how much they can learn from a nature walk?”
The naturalist shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
The girl shook her head, too. “That’s too bad.”