There was once a boy; we shall call him Stephen who lived by the Sea of Galilee. He was going off for the day to do some fishing. He carried with him his lunch in a basket his mother had prepared for him. Along the path he saw many people gathered by the sea and as he got closer he asked a woman,
"What is happening, tell me please."
"There is a man called Jesus coming to talk to us, there has been such a lot of excitement, He is a good man."
"I want to see this man called Jesus," said Stephen and he pushed ahead of the crowd and saw a boat coming ashore. A kindly man stepped from the boat followed by several of his friends called disciples. As Stephen watched he saw Jesus touch a crippled mans arm and make it better. As the time went by Stephen forgot about his fishing and lunch as he watched Jesus heal and listened to him talk about God’s love.
It was getting late and Jesus told his disciples to give the people something to eat. "But we have no food," came the reply. Stephen suddenly remembered his lunch and peered inside his basket. " I have these five barley loaves and two small fishes, you can have them, but it is not enough for all." Jesus smiled and thanked Stephen and took the five barley loaves and two small fishes and blessed the food and the disciples past the broken loaves and fishes amongst the great number of people. Stephen and all the people ate and were filled. "Now gather up the leftovers," said Jesus and Stephen watched and counted twelve baskets of barley loaves and fishes left over.
Stephen went home feeling happy and told his mother about Jesus and the crowd of people and that the food she has prepared for him has fed so many. The story soon got around the village and Stephen never forgot that day he intended to go fishing.
Joyce Gale 2003 ©
