Living a Faith-Filled Life

The Little Engine that Could, by Watty Piper, is a classic encouragement for all children. The illustrations and story are very retro, which is cool now, I'm told. But, I just like to go back to the good old stories from my childhood once in a while.

The engine for a train filled with goodies for children on the other side of the mountain breaks down and can't go any further. Other big engines (which remind you of huffy adults) go by without helping or encouraging the toys who beg them to stop and help. Finally, a little blue engine who isn't very important says even though she has never done such a thing before, she thinks she can get up the mountain.

And, so, with the motto, "I think I can. I think I can." running across the page, we see the engine doing something to help others.

I think most children will see the obvious lessons of self-confidence. But, you may also want to tie this story to the Good Samaritan (Luke 10.) In both stories, someone needs help, others walk by as if they weren't meant to stoop down to help such lowly creatures, and someone who wasn't supposed to help out does. And, in both stories we might talk about how God wants us to do the impossible. But, with God all things ARE possible.

Want to know one way to do the impossible? Come back to my blog on Tuesday. I've got a personal story about moving a mountain.