"Airplane Story"

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” - Isaiah 6:8 NLT

This  story was written around the theme of God calling us. Kristin and I  spent a lot of time getting the sayings right. We wanted the Pilot to  have classic Jesus/God sayings. I hope that this story allows you to  have a conversation with your child about accepting God’s call.

The  story starts as Toby is in his home meadow, and he sees an airplane  coming down. The plane lands nearby, and the Pilot comes out. The Pilot  calls out to anyone who could hear. “Whom shall I send, and who will go before Us?”  Jesus in this story is the Pilot. God is calling out to us to go before  Him to spread His Good News. Toby answers the call to be the copilot. A  Christian is never the one in charge. One is simply along for the ride.  The Pilot needs for Toby to find the map. The map is like our Bible. It  gives us the directions that we need to follow.

The  first obstacle Toby faces is to fly over an ocean. He has been given a  simple job. He gets bored and falls asleep. When we are called to follow  Christ, there will be season’s of boredom. It will seem like we are  there for no reason. We must always be ready as Toby finds out when the  Pilot tells him that the fuel is running out! The next obstacle is to  fly around the mountains. Toby learns that the directions he goes is up  to him. Even though he is the copilot he still has a say. God gives us  free will. He won’t stop us from our good or bad choices. Then Toby must  fly through a twister! Toby gets scared. The Pilot simply tells him to  hang on. God will take us into scary situations in which all we are  required to do is to hang on! The cave is next. They must fly their  airplane into a cave!? This is the point of a Christian’s life where  he/she is asked to do the impossible. Toby then simply trusts the Pilot  as we should also. Lastly, the treasure is a light hidden in a dark  crevice of the cave. Only Toby can pull it out. He’s too scared, but the  Pilot is standing there with him. There is a light inside all of us. We  are the only ones that can choose to let our light out. We must be able  to face our own darkness. Jesus will be with us, but it is our choice.  At the end of the story, Toby tries to give the treasure (light) back to  the Pilot. He says that it is Toby’s now. Toby then goes to share it  with all of his family and friends. This is the calling of all  Christians. We must share the light of Jesus within us with everyone.

We  hope that you and your kids have enjoyed this story! We hope that these  insights will help lead you into a more spiritual conversation with  them.

Jesus,  I pray for all the kids and parents that read this book. I pray that  they can relate to the uncertainty and wonder of an adventure. I pray  that like Toby, they answer Your call. That they too live a life for  You. The greatest adventure of all. In Your mighty name I pray. Amen