Braden and the Magic Screen — Erase with Amazing Grace

Braden sat on the floor, turning the red knobs of his Etch A Sketch. Across from him, Mr. Fudge—his beagle pup—watched closely.

Slowly, a picture began to appear. It looked just like Mr. Fudge! His tail wagged with excitement. He knew that drawing was of him!

Braden loved using his Etch A Sketch. His dad had told him stories about how it was one of his favorite toys when he was a kid. He would spend hours turning the knobs, trying to make fun pictures. Now Braden was having fun with it too!

The Etch A Sketch felt like magic. Inside, it had powder that looked like sand. When Braden turned the knobs, a little pointer moved around, scratching lines into the powder. One knob moved the pointer up and down. The other moved it left and right. That’s how he made pictures—without even using a pencil!

But then something funny happened. Braden turned the Etch A Sketch upside down and gave it a shake. Mr. Fudge’s picture disappeared! The powder spread out and made the screen blank again.

Braden didn’t mind. That was the best part! If he made a mistake or didn’t like his drawing, all he had to do was shake it and start again. Each time, it gave him a fresh, clean screen.

Braden thought about how that’s kind of like God. Sometimes we mess up—we say something mean or don’t tell the truth. But when we tell God we’re sorry, He forgives us. It’s like He gives our hearts a shake and erases our mistakes.

God helps us start fresh, just like a blank Etch A Sketch. We don’t have to stay stuck in our mess-ups. God gives us a brand-new beginning!

Braden smiled and picked up his Etch A Sketch again. He had learned from his mistake and was ready to try again. This time, he was going to draw a big, tasty bone—just for Mr. Fudge.

As Mr. Fudge curled up in his bed for a nap, Braden got to work. A fresh start of amazing grace is a wonderful gift.

Try This!
Make your own “magic eraser” reminder! Hang a Magic Slate where you can see it every day. When you make a mistake, draw a little picture of what happened. Then wipe it away and thank God for forgiving you.

Don’t have a Magic Slate? You can make one! Just slide a piece of dark paper into a clear sheet protector. Use your finger to draw on the outside. Then wipe it clean with a tissue and start again!

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Melanie Mills is a children’s picture book writer who writes heartwarming stories sprinkled with giggles, grace, and the goodness of God’s love.  Her deepest desire is that her words plant seeds of faith in children’s hearts, helping them grow strong in His truth.  When she’s not weaving words, Melanie is found laughing and enjoying the little moments of life with her family—three sons, beloved daughters-in-love, and granddaughter—diving into Scripture, chasing horizons on road trips, and spending time with her beagle pup, Fudgie.