J.R. Briggs
Attempting to behold the miracle long enough without falling asleep
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The Kingdom of God is like…The Rainbow Fish
A few nights ago I was putting Carter to bed. The bedtime routine includes brushing his teeth, putting on his jammies, doing our top-secret handshake and reading him a few books. This includes a few Curious George books, his Children's Bible, Goodnight Moon, Dr. Seuss' 'There's a Wocket in My Pocket' – and a few others. That night I read him the book The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister.
As I read I thought, If Jesus were here today and surrounded by a bunch of children and wanted to share values of God's kingdom he might tell them this story.
Here's the story (though the pictures are just as beautiful). If you have children I recommend you get this book. If you don't have children it's saturated with kingdom principles and worth taking a moment to read below:
The Rainbow Fish was the most beautiful fish in the sea.
But he never played with the other fish.
I'm too beautiful, he thought.Once, a little blue fish asked for one of his shining scales, but the Rainbow Fish just laughed.
"Never!" he said.
After that, the other fish swam away from him.
The Rainbow Fish was all alone.He went to the starfish for help.
"Why doesn't anybody like me?" he asked.
"God ask the octopus," said the starfish.
"She is very wise."The octopus said, "Give away your shining scales.
You won't be as beautiful, but you will have friends."
"I can't do that!" cried the Rainbow Fish.Suddenly the little blue fish was back.
"Please," he said.
"Could I have just one scale?"
Well, the Rainbow Fish thought.
Maybe just one tiny little scale.
The little blue fish was so pleased, it made the Rainbow Fish feel happy.Soon all the fish came, and the Rainbow Fish gave away his scales, one by one.
Finally he had only one shining scale left.
But now, as he swam off to play with his friends, he was the happiest fish in the sea."The values of the Kingdom are best expressed and we experience the richness of life best when we give ourselves away to others.
Debbie said...
1Grandma definitely approves. What a great story! Now I want to read it to Carter at bedtime . . . soon.
02/18/09 6:41 PM | Comment Link
Debbie said...
2Grandma definitely approves. What a great story!
02/18/09 6:42 PM | Comment Link
Michael said...
3JR,
This is too funny. We have everyone of those books, and we read them all regularly. Tonight we were out and about and found a whole section devoted to Rainbow Fish and had a chuckle… now I am laughing even harder. Thanks.
03/4/09 9:48 PM | Comment Link