A Ripe Heart

By Miriam Bradley

 

God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance but the LORD looks at the heart.

I Samuel 16:7

 

“Grandpa, can we get a watermelon?” Molly could almost taste the cool sweetness.

“Sure.” Grandpa knocked on one with his knuckles.

“What are you doing, Grandpa?”

“I’m picking our watermelon.”

Molly pointed to a dark one. “This looks prettier.”

Grandpa knocked on it. “Nope, that isn’t ripe.  Here, listen. Can you hear the difference?”

Molly’s eyes grew wide. “Yours sounds deeper.”

“That’s right. A lower sound means it’s riper and sweeter. You can’t tell by looking. It’s like the story of David in the Bible, Molly.”

“Watermelons are like David?”

“That’s right, Molly. When God chose David to be king he was just a kid. He was the smallest and weakest.  But God could see his heart. That’s why the Bible says that man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart.”

“I hope God sees a ripe heart when he looks at me.”

“He will if you are like David and love God with all of your heart. Let’s go see how we did with choosing a watermelon.”

Hailing originally from the Western and Plains states, Miriam Jones Bradley has worked as a nurse for the past twenty-four years and has also been an Elementary Educator and heavily involved with Children’s Ministries. Miriam has a heart for children and desires to help them do new things, take initiative, and have adventures as they grow. She is the author of The Double Cousins Mysteries, a series for ages seven to thirteen.

Through her writing, Miriam strives to provide traditional stories that are also exciting and captivating for children, teaching the importance of family connections while establishing good Biblical and character truths.

www.doublecousins.net

www.doublecousins.wordpress.com