Today was the first day of Spring, and the sun was shinning brightly as Joey stepped off the porch. The crisp morning air was filled with the fragrant smells of spring flowers, and the trees were beginning to bud. As Joey looked around at the beautiful day, he was elated to see, all of the evidence that Springtime had arrived. The gloomy winter days were gone, and Joey was filled with excitement.

At the age of 12, Joey no longer believed in Santa or the Easter Bunny, but he did believe in Resurrection Day! This was one of the two, of his favorite holidays and he was glad to have a break for the holidays. Today was Good Friday, and he could barely wait for Easter Sunday, which was just two days away. He looked around at the beautiful day, and he smiled and looked up at the sky, and said, Good Morning, Lord.

As Joey started up the sidewalk on his way to school, his mind was full of happy thoughts, and he hardly noticed anyone along the way. But suddenly, Joey’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted. He heard a woman’s angry, high pitched voice. He looked quickly around, to see who was screaming those nasty words. He looked to the left, then to the right. He noticed a woman across the street, and he realized that she was the one making the disturbance. He could hear her arguing with a man standing in the yard, then she began screaming and arguing even more loudly.

Suddenly, the man drew back his hand to hit the woman. Joey yelled at the man and told him not to hit the woman. But the man was so angry he didn’t hear what Joey had said. Just then, a neighbor who had been watching all of this, walked across the lawn and shouted at the man to stop. The woman then ran into the house, and the neighbor talked to the man until he calmed down.

Joey knew that he must hurry on down the sidewalk, or he would be late for school. Just as he started down the sidewalk, a boy came running across the yard, where all the commotion had been. Joey noticed that the boy was crying and he didn’t even stop before running across the street. A car had been coming fast, and the boy was lucky that he did not get hit by the car. Joey stood there, rather upset by all commotion. He started again, to go down the sidewalk, but he felt sad for the boy, and he so wanted to help him. He glanced across the road to see where the boy had gone. Just then, he saw the boy as he slumped down by big oak tree. Joey could hear the boy’s sobs. He knew that he had to do something to help this boy, who looked to be about Joey’s age.

Crossing the road, Joey went behind the tree. He wasn’t accustomed to violence, and he felt sick and upset, and had no idea how to comfort this boy. Finally the boy’s crying stopped and he stood up. Joey didn’t want the boy to have seen him, so he hurriedly bent over pretending to tie his shoe. Thankfully the boy did not go behind the tree, but instead he walked over to the sidewalk. Joey waited until the boy had taken several steps, before he came from behind the tree. It was getting late, and he was sure he would be late for school, so he walked faster and caught up with the boy.

Joey smiled at the boy, and said, “Hi!” But, the boy just gave Joey a strange look.
Joey didn’t know what he should do, since the boy hadn’t been friendly. Yet, Joey felt like he should say something again. The boy started walking faster, because he knew he was going to be late for school. Finally Joey caught up with the boy again.

“Hey,” Joey said. “I know a closer way to get to school, so we aren’t late. Follow me.” The boy seemed interested and so, Joey said. “What is your name, I don’t ever remember seeing you at school.”

“My name is Kevin Anderson, and the reason you hadn’t seen me before, is because we just moved here a week ago.”

“Oh, that explains it. I believe you live across the street from me, is that right?”

“Yes, you are three houses down from me, in the blue house close to the corner.”

“We have lived here for 8 years. My dad is an attorney and my Mom teaches
pre -school kids. I have a sister in the 3rd grade, and her name is Shelly.”

“Really? My sister’s name is Shelly, too. What a coincidence!”

‘Well, here we are right on time. See, I told you I had a short-cut.”

“Yes, you were right. Would it be okay, if I walk back with you after school?”

“Sure, that would be good, we could stop by the park and play some basketball.”

The next day, Joey and Kevin went to the park again, and they had a great time.
On their way back, Joey mentioned that Easter was the next day. Kevin seemed rather quiet, when Joey told Kevin, that he and his family would be celebrating Resurrection Day. Kevin didn’t have a clue what Resurrection Day was, and he didn’t really want to know.

Joey didn’t want to offend Kevin, but Joey knew it was his responsibility, to tell Kevin, that Easter is the day that Christ resurrected from the dead.

“Listen, Joey, I know we have just recently became friends, but I don’t like Easter or any holidays at all. I don’t have a problem with you being religious, as long as you don’t talk to me about it. My dad told me a long time ago, that the Bible is a figment of some fool’s imagination, and anyone who believes it is stupid. You are a nice guy, Joey, but you better wise up about all that Bible nonsense. My dad doesn’t believe in God and neither do I!”

Joey seemed very sad when he went in his house. His mother noticed that Joey was very silent and she asked him if he was okay. He told his mother what Kevin had said, and she said, “Just be patient and pray for Kevin, that’s about all we can do right now.”

Easter was passed and Joey still hadn’t seen Kevin. The Spring break was almost over, and still Kevin had not come to visit Joey. The following Monday, it was time to go back to school. Joey waited to see, if Kevin was walking down the sidewalk, but he wasn’t there. Joey was in another class from Kevin, so there wasn’t any time to see, if Kevin was changing classes.

A week went by, and Joey still hadn’t seen Kevin. Joey was very sad. Brian, a friend of Joey’s, who goes to the Baptist church with Joey, noticed that Joey wasn’t acting like himself.

“Joey, wait up,” Brian said. Joey stopped and talked to Brian for a few minutes. “Hey, how about going to the park with me after school and shoot some baskets.”
“Okay, that sounds cool, I will meet you there at five, then.”

Joey got to the park early, and he was talking to some of his other friends, while he waited for Brian to show up. Joey heard a familiar voice, and he turned around and saw Kevin just inches from him. Joey didn’t know if he should speak first or not.

“Hey, Joey, good to see you here, Kevin said. Our family had to go out of town for a few days, because my Aunt died, and we just got back last night.”

“I am sorry about your Aunt’s passing. But it’s nice to have you back.”

On their walk back from the park, Joey asked Kevin a question. “Have you ever gone to a church sleep –over?” Kevin thought for a moment and then shook his head. “Kevin looked at Joey and said, I have never heard of anything like that.”

“Joey explained that a bunch of kids spend the night in the church basement. There are games, prizes, movies, and lots of good food. The Teen leader is really cool, and we can stay up all night if we want. And the best thing is, that there is no parents allowed to go to it. I go every Friday night, it would be nice if you could come to.”

Kevin thought it sounded like it would be cool. But he was sure his parents wouldn’t allow him to go to a church. “Kevin told Joey, that his mom drinks beer all the time, and she isn’t very nice. Actually, she dates men, when my dad is out of town. I am sorry I had to tell you about that, but I knew you would keep my secret.”

Both boys were being very silent, then Joey had an idea and he was pretty sure it would work. “He asked Kevin, if he would like to go to the sleep-over, and Kevin said he would really like that. But he was sure his mother wouldn’t allow that. Joey told Kevin, that one way or another, they would get this straighten out.”

When Kevin went home, he asked his mother, if it would be okay if he spent the night at Joey’s house. “She gave him a nasty look and said, why would you want to do that? You haven’t known that kid very long, and I just don’t think it would be a good idea. We don’t need your father getting mad.”

“Well, Mom, I am not a baby anymore. A lot of the kids at school do that all the time. The only friend I have so far, is Joey and he is really nice. It’s not like I am going very far. Sheesh, Mom, Joey just lives 3 houses down from us”. His mom looked at him, and said, “Well, I will think about it.”

Early the next morning, Kevin was knocking on Joey’s door. Joey had just awaken and it took a few minutes, before Joey opened the door. He looked like he had just gotten out of bed, and he was rubbing his eyes. Finally, Joey opened the door, and Kevin was so excited he could barely contain himself. “Guess what, Joey, I can spend the night! This is so cool, don’t you think? Joey smiled at Kevin, and said, you are going to have a great time tonight.”

Kevin spent the day with Joey and his family, and Kevin could tell that they had a loving family. Kevin wished his family was like that, but he thought it would never be like Joey’s family. Late in the afternoon, the boys were getting ready to go the church. But before they left, Joshua, Joey’s father, told everyone to sit down, so they could have devotions before the boys left. Kevin was surprised, when they bowed their head and prayed, before Joshua read the bible. Kevin felt really strange as Joshua read the Bible. Kevin remembered saying to Joey, that his dad didn’t believe in God and neither did he.

Joshua opened the Bible, to John 3:15-16
“That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Kevin had never read the Bible, but he listened while Joshua read.
Without Kevin knowing it, the Holy Spirit was convicting Kevin.

Joey and Kevin had a wonderful time, and they met a lot of new friends. Kevin was glad that he had been able to go to the church basement. The next morning, Joshua came to the church to take the boys home, and Joey noticed that Kevin seemed to be really relaxed.

“Kevin thanked Mr. and Mrs. Michaels for allowing him, to be in their home and taking him to the church. We enjoyed having you in our home, you can visit us anytime you like.” Kevin felt happier then he ever had been. As Kevin was getting out of the car, “Kevin asked Mr. Michaels, if he could perhaps go to their church with them sometime.”

“Well, yes, that would be great! We can pick you up every Sunday, if would like. Did Joey tell you that the boys meet every Friday, and have sleep overs? No, he didn’t mention that. Sorry, Kevin, I was about to tell you that.”

Kevin hadn’t told his Mother and Dad, that he had been going to church every Sunday. He really wanted to tell them, but he just didn’t know how to go about it. Kevin no longer believed that there wasn’t a God, and he was sure that there was a God, a God that loved him. A few weeks ago, Kevin went down the aisle at church, and gave his heart to Jesus. His parents had noticed that Kevin was a different person, but they did not know why. He knew that it was time for him to tell his parents, why he was so different now. He talked to Joey about this, and asked him to pray for him.

The next morning, Kevin’s mom and Dad, left before Kevin had a chance to talk to them. He went to school, and decided he would talk to them when he got home from school.

Kevin was going to his next class, but the Principle stopped him. The Principle Mr. Green said, “Kevin, please come into the office, I need to talk to you.”

“Mr. Green told Kevin, to sit down and take a deep breath. What is this all about?”

“I am sorry to tell you, that your parents have had a bad accident. I am going to take you to the hospital.”

Kevin was very quiet on the ride to the hospital. All he knew to do was to pray, and hope that it isn´t serious. Mr. Green talked to the nurse for a few minutes, then the nurse took Kevin to a waiting area. He continued to pray.

“A doctor came to talk to Kevin, and he said: son, your mother is in critical condition and your father has several broken bones. I understand that you do not have any relatives, but is there someone that you can stay with for a while? Kevin had tears in his eyes as he said, yes, we have a neighbor that I am sure will let me stay with them.”

“Son, it will take a miracle if your mother survives. Right now she is on life support Your father will need several surgeries for the broken bones, but it is not life threatening. Do you want to go in and see your mother now? “Yes.” The doctor escorted him into the critical care area. The nurse told him that he could only stay there for 10 minutes.

“Kevin looked at his Mother, but she didn’t look like herself and he tried his best not to cry. He gently took his mother’s hand and looked in her eyes, but she didn’t respond. “I love you , Mom, and you are going to be okay. God is here with us, and He will take care of you.” Kevin wasn’t sure, if she had really heard what he said, but he hoped she had.” The ten minutes went so quickly and there was so much he wanted to tell her, but he knew that he had to wait for now. “He carefully leaned over and kissed her cheek, and told her that he would come back as soon as they would let him.

His dad was in surgery, so he would come back later to see him. Mr. Green, put his arm around Kevin, and told him not to worry about school right now. Mr Green
dropped Kevin off at the Michaels house. “Kevin thanked Mr. Green for his help and he said: “God bless you, and please pray for my parents.”

Kevin knocked on the Michaels door, and Mrs. Michaels was surprised to see Kevin standing there with tears streaming from his eyes.

Every day after school, Kevin stopped by the hospital, to see how his parents were doing. His father was doing a lot better and the doctor said within another 3 weeks, he might be able to go back home. Kevin always sat down by his Father’s bed, and he talked about God. At first, his father was very upset about Kevin getting saved.
But little by little, His dad realized that someone had been taking care of him without his notice. “The car was completely destroyed, and the police said that it was amazing that they survived.”

“Kevin said, it was a miracle that you and mom survived. The man in the other car had died immediately. So you see, dad, there was someone looking out for you, and that man’s name is Jesus.

Kevin’s dad still had injuries, but he was able to do small chores and little things around the house. Kevin’s dad finally realized that there is a God, and he started going to church. Kevin was so happy, when his dad finally asked God to save him from his sins. A little at a time, Kevin’s mom listened to church programs, and the day finally came when his mom was saved too.

Kevin’s mom had been in the hospital for 4 months, and today was the day that she would come home. She still had to use a wheelchair, but praise God, she survived.
And every Sunday morning, the Michael’s and the Anderson’s are greeting everyone that enter the church.

Tara Hart © 2007 All rights reserved by the Author