Children’s Day’s Journey
Memory Verse:
“So now you are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens together with God’s people, and you belong to God’s family.”
— Ephesians 2:19, ICB
One bright morning, Joppa the Ostrich walked with Millo, the little bird, toward the little schoolhouse near the meadow.
Mahle, the spotted lamb, came along too.
Hippii the Hippo followed behind them.
Wally the Warthog trotted close by, humming to himself.
Inside the schoolhouse, an old round clock hung on the wall.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
The friends looked up at it.
Joppa blinked. “What time is it?”
Mahle tilted his little head. “I don’t know.”
Hippii squinted. “The big hand is pointing somewhere… but I’m not sure where.”
Wally chuckled. “I know what time it is.”
Millo fluttered onto Joppa’s shoulder. “You do?”
Wally grinned. “It’s… time to eat!”
Everyone laughed.
Just then, wise Rafi-Owl flew in through the open window and landed near the chalkboard.
“It may be almost lunchtime,” Rafi-Owl said kindly, “but first, let us learn to tell time.”
The friends gathered close.
Rafi-Owl pointed his wing toward the clock. “This little hand is the hour hand. This long hand is the minute hand. Time is always moving, whether we notice it or not.”
The room grew quiet.
Joppa looked carefully.
Mahle listened closely.
Hippii leaned forward.
Even Wally stopped joking for a moment.
Rafi-Owl continued, “If we do not learn how to read time, we may miss what is right in front of us.”
Millo chirped softly, “That sounds important.”
“It is,” said Rafi-Owl.
Then he smiled and added, “And it is not only true about clocks.”
The friends looked at him with wide eyes.
Rafi-Owl went on, “Sometimes we waste time. We may spend too much time arguing, too much time being distracted, or too much time ignoring what is good. We may miss chances to be kind, to listen, to learn, and to follow the Lord.”
Mahle looked down at his little hooves.
“I think I have wasted time before,” he said softly. “Sometimes I spend too much time feeling sorry for myself.”
Hippii nodded. “Sometimes I spend too much time worrying.”
Wally’s ears drooped. “Sometimes I spend too much time talking when I should be listening.”
Joppa lowered her head a little. “Sometimes I spend too much time being afraid.”
Millo fluttered his wings. “And sometimes I get distracted too.”
Rafi-Owl’s voice stayed gentle.
“Yes,” he said, “we all waste time sometimes. But that is not the end of the story.”
The friends looked up again.
Rafi-Owl opened his Bible and read from Ephesians.
“You are no longer strangers and foreigners. You belong to God’s family.”
Joppa’s eyes brightened. “Belong?”
“Yes,” said Rafi-Owl. “Before Jesus saved us, we were far away. We were like outsiders who did not know the way home. But because of Jesus, we are brought near. We are no longer strangers. We belong to God’s family.”
Mahle smiled softly.
“So even if I have wasted time,” he asked, “Jesus still wants me near Him?”
“Yes,” said Rafi-Owl.
“Even if I was foolish?” Wally asked.
“Yes,” said Rafi-Owl again.
“Even if I worried too much?” Hippii asked.
“Yes,” Rafi-Owl said warmly. “Jesus brings us near by His Love and grace.”
Millo chirped happily. “That means the Lord can help us use our time better!”
“He can,” said Rafi-Owl. “He teaches us to use time wisely—to learn, to Love, to help, to pray, and to follow Him.”
Joppa lifted her head higher.
“Then I want to learn,” she said bravely.
Mahle nodded. “Me too.”
Hippii smiled. “Me too.”
Wally grinned. “And after that… maybe it can be lunchtime.”
Everyone laughed again.
Then Rafi-Owl pointed to the clock once more.
“Now,” he said, “let us try again. What time is it?”
This time, the friends looked more carefully.
They were still learning.
They were still growing.
But now they understood something even more important than the clock on the wall:
Time is a gift.
Jesus is our Savior.
And because of Him, we belong in God’s family.
Little Lesson
Sometimes we waste time.
We may waste time:
- being afraid,
- arguing,
- complaining,
- gossiping,
- or forgetting to listen.
But Jesus is kind and full of grace.
He helps us:
- learn,
- grow,
- use our time wisely,
- and remember that we belong to Him.
Reflection Question
What is one good thing you can do with your time Today?
Prayer of Repentance and Wisdom
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me.
I am sorry for the times I waste time, ignore what is good, or forget to listen. Please forgive me for the moments when I choose foolishness over wisdom.
Help me use my time well.
Help me learn.
Help me listen.
Help me be kind.
Help me follow You.
Thank You that because of Your Love, I am not far away. I belong to God’s family.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.