Don't you know that there are lots of times it is hard to be cheerful and kind? It is like a stormy winter day when plants don't want to grow.... But Jesus has a way for us to "sprout" on those stormy winter days.

Precious... tossed on her crown of love, but didn't have time to adjust her veil of quietness.... Princess Kind-to-All had planned a party and Precious didn't want to be late. She bounded down the steps... and did not notice her ring fall to the floor.

"Push," said Josh. Timothy sighed. He pushed Josh a little bit. "More," said Josh. Then a thought came to Timothy. If he pushed Josh very hard, Josh might get scared. He would cry. He would want to go to Mother. And Timothy could play by himself!

"Won't fight, huh." Eric gave his twisted arm a yank which brought another cry of pain from Johnny. "When I tell you to fight, you better fight! Or you'll wish you had," he continued grimly. Peter laughed with glee. "Get him, Eric. He's too scared to fight!"

The next day a strange thing happened. God had always taken care of them so that they always had food to eat, even during the hard times of the war. But now no money came in the mail and hardly any food was sent.... Soon they were very hungry.

If seedlings don't get light, they will start looking for it, because light is what helps them grow. In the Bible, Jesus is called our Light. If we don't come close to Him each day, we won't grow in our hearts like we should.