Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids Keys For Kids Ministries

Stroking the hen's feathers, Rowan grinned as the chicks tugged at his pants, then scuttled under their mother. "Hi, girls." His sisters Opal and Sylvie joined him, peering under the hen at the chicks, but they knew better than to touch.
"They're so cute!" Five-year-old Rosalind tried to grab a chick, but the chick's mother puffed up and jumped at her defensively.
"Rosie, you have to be gentle, or else Luna will do that again," Mom said as she walked up and peeled off her gardening gloves. "She's a very protective mother, you know."
The chicks at last were allowed to wander out, but when the dog, Arabella, came bounding up, the chicks--Stella, Sunshine, Nova, and Aurora--scurried to take cover under Luna's outspread wings.
Rowan hopped up and grabbed Arabella's collar. "Whoa there, girl. You can't do that. See, you've frightened them." Arabella whined apologetically.
"You know," Sylvie said slowly, "this reminds me of a verse I read this morning."
"What?" Opal cocked her head.
Mom smiled. "Let me guess. 'People take refuge in the shadow of your wings'?"
"Exactly!" Sylvie laughed. "How did you know?"
"We're all reading the Psalms." Mom shrugged. "That was in the one for today."
"What does that mean?" Rosalind wanted to know.
"Think of it this way. When the chicks are afraid, where do they go?"
"Under Luna," Rowan replied promptly.
"Why?"
"Because they like her?" Rosalind guessed.
"Not exactly." Mom smoothed Rosalind's hair. "They go there because they are safe there. Arabella can't reach them there because Luna will protect them. And they know that, by instinct. It's a little like that with us and God. Sometimes we're afraid, or worried, or we feel alone. But like those little chicks, we can take shelter under God's wings. And He is able to protect us far more than Luna could ever protect her chicks. Jesus defeated sin and death to save us, and He promises to always be with us and take care of us."
"So even though Mimi and Papa are sick, and there's a war going on, and we're sometimes so scared we don't know what to do, we can always run to God." Rowan smiled. "Just like Luna's chicks run to her."
– Ellie Shirk

"Did you see my hit, Dad?" Caden asked as he climbed into the pick-up. "My first of the season!"
Dad nodded. "You know, it could have been a double if you had stepped into the swing."
"I know, but..." Caden quieted.
Mom opened the front door as they drove up to the house. "How was the game, guys?"
"I got a hit," said Caden softly as Dad shuffled away to weed the flower beds.
"Great!" said Mom. "I'm sorry I couldn't be--" But Caden was already inside. He surveyed the kitchen for a snack as Mom followed him into the room.
"I tried a new cookie recipe today." Mom held out a plate and Caden took one. "A perfect way to celebrate your hit." Caden didn't respond. "Did something happen at the game, Caden? What's wrong?"
"Why can't Dad ever say 'good job'? It's just two words. Instead, he always points out what could be better."
"Dad is proud of you, Caden. I'm sure of it. He just forgets how important it is to say it. Maybe you should talk to him about it and tell him how you feel."
"I guess." Caden bit into his cookie. "Hey, Mom, these cookies are a little burnt."
Just then Caden's sister Emily bounded into the kitchen. "I did it! I finally finished the scarf I've been knitting." She held it up for them to see.
Caden glanced at it and frowned. "Aren't scarves supposed to be longer than that?"
Emily glared at him and then walked back to her room.
"What did I say?" asked Caden.
Mom touched his shoulder. "What was it again you wished Dad would have said after the game?"
"Good job. Just two simple words, 'Good--'" Caden stopped. "Oh."
Mom lifted her eyebrows. "Mmm hmm. Sometimes we all just need a little encouragement, don't we? None of us is perfect, but we're still loved--God loves us so much He sent Jesus to die for our sins! And He wants us to remind others that we love them too by acknowledging their accomplishments and encouraging them."
"I'll go find Emily," Caden said. "Looks like Dad and I could work on this together." Caden left the room, but quickly returned. "Hey, Mom? Good job on those cookies."
Mom smiled. "Thanks, Caden. That's just what I needed to hear."
– Kelly Carlson

"Mom, look at this!" Sari pointed to the TV. "This woman has been hoarding junk for more than twenty years, and now her house is so full she can't even move around in it! It's a huge health hazard, and she's going to be forced to leave her home if she doesn't clean it out. The team of people who make this show came to help. Just look at all that stuff!"
Mom shook her head sadly. "That poor woman. It's so hard to let go of things sometimes."
Sari rolled her eyes. "It's her own fault for letting it get like that! Couldn't she see that her house was getting so full she could hardly walk around?"
"Not necessarily," answered Mom. "I'm sure it happened so gradually over a long period of time that she hardly noticed it. It probably wasn't until someone else came inside that she realized how bad it had gotten. That's how it happened with me."
"What?" exclaimed Sari. "You used to be a hoarder?"
Mom laughed. "I guess you could say that. I didn't hoard things in my house though--I hoarded things in my heart."
"What do you mean?" asked Sari.
"Well, when I became a Christian, I was thrilled to have Jesus in my life. But even though I knew He'd made me a new person, I still didn't want to let go of some sinful things I thought were fun or the grudges I had against other people. I was holding on to sin and anger and bitterness, even though those things didn't belong in my new life and were hurting me and others."
"So how'd you get rid of them?" asked Sari.
"It wasn't until a Christian friend pointed out how she saw me living that I finally realized I needed help. The Holy Spirit gave me the power to let go of my selfish desires so I could live in a way that reflects Jesus's love without all that other stuff getting in the way."
Sari looked back at the TV screen. "Just like the woman on this show will be able to enjoy living in her house once all that junk is cleaned out of it."
Mom nodded. "Exactly!"
– Courtney Lasater

Mario and his dad were on a fishing trip when Mario made a discovery--an eagle's nest way up near the top of a tall tree. And up in the sky, they saw a large bird soaring high over the river. Mario let out a long breath. "Wow! I wish I could fly like that!"
"Well, that eagle didn't always have such great flying skills," said Dad. "I've read that baby eagles are afraid of flying. In fact, it takes a great deal of their mother's prodding to get them out of their soft, warm nest."
"I know. We talked about them in school. My teacher said the mother eagle pushes the babies right out over the side of the nest. That must be scary for them!"
Dad nodded. "They probably think they'll fall to the ground."
"Yeah, but then after the mother eagle lets one of the eaglets flutter and fall for a bit, she soars underneath it and lets it land on her wings. Then she takes it back to the nest. She does that over and over until they're brave and strong enough to fly on their own."
A few days later, Mario felt nervous about a kids' event at church he had agreed to help with. "Mrs. Campbell wants me to help with the little kids' group tomorrow," Mario told his dad. "But what if the kids ask me questions I don't know how to answer? It might be the first time some of them ever hear about Jesus, and I'm afraid I won't know what to say!"
"You can always ask an adult for help," said Dad. "I know it's scary for you, Mario, but you haven't forgotten how little eagles learn to fly, have you?"
"What does that have to do with it?" Mario wanted to know.
"God often helps His children in a way that's similar to how a mother eagle helps her babies," Dad explained. "Sometimes He gives you a gentle push to get you to try new things--things that make you feel helpless or afraid at first so you'll learn to depend on Him for strength and guidance. The Holy Spirit is always with you, and He'll be there to catch you and help you know what to say."
Mario smiled. "Thanks, Dad. I'll remember that tomorrow."
– Trudy Vanderveen

Grace took her treasure box out from under the bed and opened it to look over the contents inside. She took a couple of items out and inspected them. A special note from Grandma. A ballet ticket stub. A birthstone ring. A picture book. She smiled as she returned them to her box. She often did this before going to bed. Seeing her treasures brought memories that gave her happy, warm feelings.
One morning, Grace's little sister greeted her eagerly. "I had a dream last night," said Everly. "It was about a great big treasure box. It was way bigger than yours, and lots prettier too! It sparkled all over. And it was as tall as the sky!"
Grace grinned at Everly. "What was in the box?"
"I don't know," said Everly. "I couldn't see inside it."
"Well, who do you think would own such a big, fancy box?" Grace asked. "A king? Or the President?"
"I know who!" exclaimed Everly. "God could have a box like that."
Grace grinned. "If God had a treasure box, what He would put in it? Rainbows, maybe? Or oceans? How about mountains? Or gold?" Everly nodded, but no answer seemed quite right to Grace.
"Let's think about it today," Mom suggested. "Let's see who can come up with an even better answer."
"Okay," said Grace, but her day was busy, and she soon forgot all about it.
When Grace got home from school, Everly was waiting for her. "I know what God would put in His treasure box!" she said, bouncing up and down. "I know the answer!"
"You do?" asked Grace. "How do you know? Mom told you, didn't she?" Grace turned to her mother. "What is it, Mom? Tell me too!"
Mom smiled at her. "Go look up Deuteronomy 7:6," she said. "Maybe that will help you figure it out."
When Grace looked up the verse in her Bible, she saw the answer to the question. People, she thought. God would put the people He saved in His treasure box. Grace smiled. She knew she was part of God's treasure.
–Joy L. Newswanger

"I'm going for a walk." Mel's attention shot up at Owen's announcement as he entered the kitchen. He still had his hoodie on, but he was actually wearing jeans, not sweatpants. "You want to join?" Mel nodded and jumped to her feet, and within a minute they were out the door.
Mel loved walking in their neighborhood downtown. She liked the scrunched-up houses and how close they lived to their neighbors. As she and Owen walked in silence, Mom's words from a couple weeks ago telling her that Owen had depression echoed in her ears. She kept glancing over at her brother, and eventually he asked, "Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Mel kicked a rock instead of responding. "Mel, what's wrong?"
Finally, she looked up at her big brother. "I just don't understand," she began. "Can't Jesus heal people? Why doesn't He heal you? Will you be sick forever?"
This time Owen kicked the rock before replying. "I believe Jesus can heal me and take away my depression. I'm not sure why He's not doing it now, but I know He will one day."
"One day like in a few more weeks?"
"Maybe," responded Owen. "But maybe not. It's complicated. Jesus promises us that when we trust Him as our Savior, He will save us from our sins so we can be with Him forever. But not everything is perfect--yet. It won't be until Jesus makes everything right when He comes again."
"What do we do until then?" Mel asked.
Owen took a deep breath. "We have hope. I know with certainty that God is faithful and incapable of breaking His promises. Having hope is having confidence in God."
Mel took in the sight of her brother. He was in a good mood today, but would he be tomorrow? Before she could say anything, Owen continued. "And when it's hard to hope, I take comfort in knowing that Jesus is still with me and can give me hope and peace."
Mel found another rock to kick, then looked to Owen and said, "Would it help if I made a sticker of Jesus's hope for your door? That way it'll be easier to remember."
Owen grinned. "I think that's a wonderful idea."
–Zoe Brickner