The Little Engine Could and Did

This morning I got to go to "Breakfast With Dad" at my three year old's Pre-K classroom. I was excited to go because it finally gave me an opportunity to put the faces with the names and the stories of Will's new friends. The other thing I looked forward to was that I was chosen to read the story, "The Little Engine That Could" to the kids during storytime.

We arrived on time(!) and Will showed me where he sits for breakfast. I took a seat next to him and we ate sausage, biscuits, and gravy. I asked him if they had coffee and he told me that all they had was milk and juice. However, a big thanks to my wife for fetching me a hot cup from the cafeteria. After we ate, we played with educational toys until the teacher rang the bell to announce that it was story time. All of the kids crowded onto the carpet and all dads were asked to line up so they could go to a meeting next door. All except for me.

Since I was the story teller, I got to sit in the rocking chair and look down at all the little faces around me, waiting in anticipation for me to tell them the story. When it was my turn to start, I began by having them make the sounds of a train whistle, a bell, and the chugga-chugga that resonates from the pistons that push the wheels. After the kids had the sound effects down, it was time to begin the tale.

I had heard the story of the little engine many times before, but I had never really thought about it much more than that it is a nice story about going the distance and never giving up. If you can't remember the specifics, here is the cliff note version:

A train full of toys is struggling along, trying to take a load of toys to the kids on the other side of the mountain. The train realizes it can't make it over the mountain on it's own. That's when the little engine shows up, hooks up, and hauls the load over the mountain for him and saves the day!

This is such a great story! You have an action, a problem, a hero, and a happy ending. The neat thing is that God spoke to me while I was reading to the kids and I ended up thinking of what the spiritual cliff notes would be comprised of. Well, here goes:

Every person on earth struggles through this life carrying their individual burdens with them on their back. You can't make it on your own and live abundantly unless you have The help that only God offers to get you there. That's when Jesus enters the picture, takes your burdens, and carries you over the mountain to the fullness of life He promised in John 10:10.

The next time I read a children's book to Will, I'll remember to have my spiritual eyes more focused so I can turn every story into one about God. Afterall, He is the great author of our story.