When young Kaylee and her dog Keedo wake up, they greet God with a morning prayer: “Good morning, God! Thank you for this brand-new day!”
Downstairs, Kaylee opens the front door, and Keedo retrieves the morning newspaper. In the kitchen, Kaylee and Halbi—her Korean grandfather—eat their breakfast and then look at the newspaper together. Sometimes the stories are funny, but oftentimes not.
Today, Kaylee sees a picture of a boy standing in front of a field of tents. She learns that he lives in Turkey, and he has been displaced from his home because of an earthquake. Kaylee points out the story to Halbi and asks him to cut out the photo. After breakfast, Kaylee goes to her room to talk to God about the sad boy. She asks, “God, do you care about this boy?”
Returning to the kitchen, Kaylee pins the newspaper clipping to the world map on the family’s prayer wall. It also includes pictures of children from North Korea, the United States, India, South Sudan, and the Middle East. Kaylee is overcome with sadness and asks, “God, do you care about all these children in the world?”
Sensitive to Kaylee’s sorrow and perplexity, Halbi invites her to pray for the children of the world. But Kaylee feels at a loss because there’s so much to pray for and she doesn’t know how to deal with that. But then Kaylee remembers what she’s been taught from the Bible—God’s Spirit helps people to pray when they don’t know what to pray for (Rom. 8:26).
Sitting in silence, Kaylee and Halbi pray and wait for the Holy Spirit’s leading. Then their voices join in prayer—Halbi prays in Korean and Kaylee in English. Kaylee is comforted when she hears the still, small voice of God’s Spirit assuring her that he hears her prayers for all the children of the world.
Illustrator Shin Maeng’s bright, openhearted artwork and author Helen Lee’s sensitive, worshipful story are based on their experiences years ago of teaching their four young sons to pray for the children of the world. In an author note, Lee includes questions for parents as they and their children engage with this enriching resource: “Halbi and Kaylee looked through the newspaper each morning. How could we grow more aware of the needs around the world? What would help us remember to pray regularly for the needs of the world?”
(IVP Kids)
About the Author
Sonya VanderVeen Feddema is a freelance writer and a member of Covenant CRC in St. Catharines, Ontario.