This is a new site, just for assembling the GGN Jenny Stories. Happy reading!

Jenny Age 3

Jenny Story Age 3 – Beth A.

When Jenny was three years old, she was not a very obedient child; in fact she was sometimes down right rebellious. Gordon also had problems with quick, cheerful, and complete obedience. So Jenny’s parents decided to try something to help their children learn to obey. “We are going to play a game,” Jenny’s mother said. “It is called ‘Obedience Practice.’ When Daddy or I tell you what to do, I want you to say “Yes, Mother,” or “Yes, Daddy,” and go do it immediately. We will set aside time to play Obedience Practice.”
Every evening for the next two weeks, they played Obedience Practice. Daddy requested, “Gordon, I want you to take your shoes and put them in your room.”
“Yes, Daddy,” five-year-old Gordon replied, feeling slightly silly, but he went to do it.
“Thank you, Gordon,” Daddy said. “Now I want you to put my coffee cup in the kitchen.”
Mother said, “Jenny, I want you to take this newspaper and put it in the newspaper rack.”
“Yes, Mother,” Jenny giggled, and went to do it. Was it always going to be this fun?
“Jenny, please hand my book to me,” Mother asked.
“But, Mother, it’s right beside you!” Jenny replied.
“No ‘buts’. Try again,” Mother said. “Jenny, please hand my book to me.”
“Yes, Mother,” she said sassily when her pride was hurt, but handed the book to Mother.
“When you are told something to do you need to do it without talking back,” Mother corrected. She sighed.
“Please go get a blank piece of paper for me, Jenny,” Daddy said.
“Yes, Daddy.”
Mother and Daddy sometimes told them silly things to do just for fun, and other times they were told to do a chore or to straighten up the room. Another day, while Dad was at work, Gordon and Jenny were playing on their swing-set, while Mother was working in the garden. “Jenny, please go get me the watering can,” Mother asked.
“Sure,” Jenny said happily as she hopped off of the swing.
“Thank you, Jenny. You are learning to quickly and cheerfully obey me. Obedience will be a blessing all of your life!”
“Gordon, bring me the dandelion digger from the hook in the garage, “ Mother instructed. Gordon quickly retrieved the tool and received Mother’s approving smile. It was the Obedience Practice Game that helped both Gordon and Jenny to develop the habit of cheerfully and quickly obeying. Mother and Daddy always thanked the children for their efforts to obey them.
One day as Gordon and Jenny were tossing a ball in the front yard, the ball went into the busy street. As Jenny started running after the ball, Mother, who was watching out the open kitchen window, yelled, “Jenny! Stop!” Jenny stopped “dead still” at the edge of the street. Just then the ball was run over by a speeding motorcycle. When Gordon and Jenny came inside crying about their busted ball, Mother said, “Jenny, I am so glad you have learned to obey me immediately. If you hadn’t obeyed me today, you would have gotten run over by the motorcycle and you would be terribly sick or even dead! You see how obedience will save your life!”
Copyright GGN

Jenny Age 9

Jenny Story Age 9 – Emily A.

“Mom, can I go on a bike ride with Gordon?” Jenny asked.
“Yes, you can, honey, if you will change your skirt. That skirt has too many ruffles and laces and is too full to wear for bike riding.”
“Okay, Mom. See you later.”
As Jenny went upstairs, she thought about what skirt to put on. She remembered her best bike riding skirt was in the laundry. “I don’t have anything else to wear,” she thought. “Maybe if I’m really careful, I can just wear this skirt.” She called out the open window to Gordon, “I’ll get a water-bottle, but could you get out my bike, please?”
“Sure, I can, Jenny,” was Gordon’s reply.
Jenny quickly made a water-bottle and rushed out the door calling to Mother on the way, “Goodbye, Mom.” Jenny was glad Mother was in the sewing room in the back of the house and couldn’t see her leaving.
Jenny and Gordon walked to the street and then waited for an opening in the traffic. After they got their bikes across the street, Gordon asked Jenny, “Where would you like to go, Jenny?”
“I’d like to go to the steep hill so we can go down really fast!” Jen answered.
“Do you mean the Lampherd Hill?” Gordon asked.
“Yeah, wouldn’t it be really fun?”
Gordon led the way for several blocks. Then they were at the top of Lampherd Hill. It was a very steep hill!
“This is going to be so fun. I am going to go down the hill very fast,” said Jenny. As she started out, the ride was kind of slow. Then Jenny went so fast that she felt like she would never stop.
“Jenny, look out! Your dress is caught!” cried Gordon.
Jenny looked down and her skirt WAS caught. “Oh, no! What should I do?” she thought.
Jenny put on her brakes as fast as she could. The bike finally stopped. The lace and ruffle was torn and wound around the gears. Gordon stopped beside her, and helped. When they got her skirt untangled, it was ripped terribly and had black grease marks on it.
“Gordon, should I walk home? It’s not too far.”
“I think that you should ride back home slowly, just hold your ripped skirt up.”
“Ok.” So Jenny got on her bike and arranged her skirt under her so that none of it was hanging near the gears. She rode slowly and kept looking down to see if there was a problem. When they got home, they put the bikes away and went inside.
“Jenny, Gordon, are you home?” Mother called from the kitchen when she heard the door.
“Yes, Mother, we’re home,” they said in unison. They went into the kitchen and Mother saw Jenny’s skirt.
“What happened, Jenny? I thought I told you to change your skirt before you went riding.”
Jenny very sadly explained, “I thought since my riding skirt was in the laundry, I would be careful and just wear the skirt I had on, Mother. I’m so sorry I did not listen to you and obey you. I could’ve gotten the skirt out of the laundry and worn it anyway. Please forgive me, Mother.”
Mother had a sad look on her face. “Well, I’m sorry that your skirt got caught, Jenny. Now you know why I wanted you to change. I’m glad you weren’t hurt. You could have flown off the bike and gotten injured badly. You can go up to your room and change. Then bring your skirt down here and I will try to mend it this evening. I do forgive you, Jenny.”
“Thank you so much, Mom!” and Jenny flew up the stairs. Mother smiled and shook her head.

Jenny Age 10

Jenny Story Age 10 – Beth A.

“Hi, Jenny,” Terri greeted Jenny as she came to the door.
“Jenny, remember your manners. I’ll be back in two hours to pick you up,” Jenny’s mother said. “I will!” Jenny said. The girls dashed up the stairs to Terri’s room. “I am so excited. I haven’t come to play with you at your house for a long time! I brought my doll, so we can play ‘house’?” Jenny asked, setting it down on the bed. “Can we play right now?”
The girls played ‘house’ happily for an hour. Then Terri wanted to play something else. “We have some more time ‘til your mother comes…humm… what shall we do next?” ten-year-old hostess Terri asked. “Do you want to play Dominoes?”
“That’s fine,” Jenny said, “but can James play too? We kinda need more than two people for Dominoes.”
James was Terri’s 13-year-old brother, a really smart boy. He was diligent in school and kind to his sisters. Jenny didn’t have a crush on him; she just wanted to get him involved and have fun.
“I’d rather he didn’t play with us,” Terri said. “Let’s just play by ourselves. He’ll keep us from having fun.”
“I think it would be more fun with more people,” Jenny said. “Besides, we might need help knowing how to keep score.”
“Okay,” Terri said with a loud sigh, as they left Terri’s bedroom and went to the family room to get the game. “James, do you want to play Dominoes with us?”
“Sure,” he said, closing his book.
As he came over Terri scowled, “But don’t tell us what to do! We don’t need help from you!”
In all the time Jenny had known Terri she had always thought of her as a sweet girl. They had met each other at a revival in a nearby town. The girls had kept in contact by phone and letters, but didn’t see each other often because of attending different churches and schools. Terri had always been very kind... to Jenny at least. They would write to each other about all sorts of girly things: planning tea parties, making artwork, writing stories, playing instruments, and much more. Occasionally, they would exchange gifts and borrow books from each other. They both were the same age so they liked many of the same kinds of things. Jenny hadn’t been around Terri’s family very much, but she did know who everyone was. She was quite saddened by Terri’s lack of “sisterly love” for James.
At some point in the game Terri couldn’t decide which domino to play and needed help. “Jenny, will you help me? PLEASE?” she asked.
“I can help you,” James offered.
“Why don’t you let James help you? He’d probably give better advice than I would,” Jenny said.
“I don’t want his help!” She glared at him. James reached over to help her, and she shoved him away, saying angrily, “Go away! Quit annoying me!” As she shoved his arm away, three dominoes fell to the floor revealing the dotted side of them. “See what you made me do! Now EVERYBODY knows what I have!” Terri whined. “MOM! James is annoying us. Tell him to go away!” Terri hollered.
Jenny’s heart sank. She hadn’t known that Terri could be so hateful to her brother. She searched her mind to see if anything she had done had caused the fussing.
Terri’s mom came and said, “What’s the matter? What are you fussing about?”
“He made me knock over ALL my dominoes!” Terri exaggerated. “Brothers are so annoying!” she said sassily. “I wish he’d never have been born!”
Mom said, “Come with me, James, I need your help in the other room.”
“But, Mom, it wasn’t like that at all!” James protested as he left the room with his Mom.
The visit was spoiled for Jenny. Somehow she made it through the rest of the afternoon and was relieved when her mother showed up. As Jenny got into the car, Mother asked, “What happened? You look upset about something.”
Jenny burst into tears. Jenny wouldn’t talk for a long time, so Mother prodded, “Please tell me, Jenny.”
“It was fine at first,” Jenny said, “when we were playing dolls; but after that when we played dominoes… I wanted James to play with us, so it would be more fun with three people. So he did; but when Terri needed help she didn’t want James to help her. He moved over to help her and looked at her dominoes. She knocked his arm away and three dominoes fell to the floor. Terri got really angry and said really mean things about James. Her mom came in and took James away. Then Terri and I decided to play something else. I didn’t have fun after that, because Terri acted so unkindly to her brother. It was very hard for me to be nice to her.”
“I am so sorry that Terri acted that way…” Mother started.
“It doesn’t seem fair, though, because James got taken away when it wasn’t even his fault. Terri was mad at him. He didn’t do anything!” Jenny interrupted.
“Probably Terri’s mom didn’t want to punish her when her guest was there. You definitely need to pray for Terri to love her brother, but you can’t take up an offense for James. We need to pray for God to give grace to James to forgive Terri. You can’t hold a grudge about it, Jenny. God gives grace to forgive to the person who’s been offended, but to people like you, who weren’t offended, you need to personally let go of it and pray for their family. You remember in devotions the other night when we were talking about forgiveness? Jesus said that we are to forgive our brother who sins against us. You weren’t sinned against, James was. So you need to let go of it.”
“But, Mother, should I not be friends with Terri anymore? The Bible says in Proverbs 22:24, ‘Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go.’ What shall I do?”
“Jenny, for one thing, you didn’t get my point just now: it’s not your problem, you need to let go of it…”
“But, what about that verse?” Jenny sighed in despair.
“She isn’t your closest friend and you are not around her that much,” Mother explained, “and you need to be a good influence on her to be more Christ-like whenever you have opportunity. You can be strong enough in the Lord to not be influenced badly by her attitudes, meanwhile praying that you can help her. We cannot isolate ourselves. How do you expect to help others do right if you aren’t willing to be with them? Jenny, you have to be careful, in this too, that you search your own heart and not think too highly of your spiritual ‘goodness’. Romans 12:3 says, ‘For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.’ This is a good opportunity for you to search your own heart, and see if people looking on would say that you love your brothers all the time. Jenny, I want you to learn these two lessons very well; you’ll need them all your life. You must never take up someone else’s offense, and you must guard against a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude.”
“I am so glad I have you for a Mother to talk things over with. But, sometimes it seems like I do everything wrong, because I was having a bad attitude about the whole thing.”
“When we get some instruction about something, we have to be humble enough to accept it as truth and work on our problems, not be mad about our former train of thought,” Mother said. “I know how you feel, believe me! I have been humbled many times; and I just had to be willing to learn from it.”

Sis. Trenton (Terri’s mom) called Jenny’s mother that evening, and apologized for the bad behavior Terri had had while Jenny was visiting. “We have really been praying for Terri, that she will give her heart completely to Jesus. We have been working on her and disciplining her. I am so sorry that she wasn’t a good example for your Jenny this afternoon.”
Jenny was still thinking about Terri, and about her own relationship to her brothers. Jenny didn’t know Sis. Trenton had called but came to her Mother to talk some more. “Mother..”
“Yes, Jenny.”
“Remember earlier when you said for me to think about whether or not I treat my brothers like Jesus would want me to? Well, I’ve been thinking about it,” Jenny paused. “You didn’t know it, but Gordon and I had an argument yesterday. I wanted to jump on the trampoline. He wouldn’t get off right away, so I said really mean things and accused him of being selfish. Oh, and then I wouldn’t play a game with him when he asked me to, because I was so mad at him.”
“Jenny, do you realize that whatever you do or say, people are watching and listening? It is not a good witness for the Lord to our neighbors who are watching when you argue with your brothers.”
“But, Mother, I am so sorry! I don’t want to do things that don’t please Jesus. I know that it makes the devil happy. I don’t want to serve the devil,” Jenny said with tears running down her cheeks.
“Would you like to pray and ask Jesus to forgive you for being unkind?” Mother asked lovingly. Jenny nodded her head. They knelt beside Mother’s bed.
“Dear Jesus, I am so sorry for displeasing you! I am sorry for fighting with Gordon,” she prayed. “Please forgive me and save me. In Jesus name, Amen.” Then she added, ”Thank you for forgiving me, Jesus.”
“Mother?” Jenny said, “I don’t think that it is enough just to read my Bible everyday. I mean, I have to obey it, not just read my Bible so I can say I did.”
“That’s right, Jenny. The whole point of reading your Bible is so that you can know God’s heart, and obey what He wants,” Mother said. “-To be like Jesus. And it doesn’t matter how old you are, you have to keep reading it to know how to grow to be Christlike. About Gordon and Jordon- if you’ll be sweet to them, you can be best friends now and the rest of your life.”

It was a week later that Jenny’s mother received another phone call from Sis. Trenton, “We’re on our way to the hospital,” she said with tears. “James, our son, has been very ill yesterday and today. At first we thought that it was just a stomach flu, but he has been getting worse and worse. James is very weak and terribly dehydrated. So we are taking him to the hospital. Please pray, and get everyone you know to pray for him! It is going to take a miracle. We tried everything we knew to do, and then called our family doctor. The doctor said to take him to the hospital immediately.”
“I will call the prayer chain coordinator at our church immediately. We will be praying.”
“I better go now,” Sis. Trenton said, “I need to get to the hospital.”
“All right. Keep us posted.” Mother said. Immediately after Mother called the prayer coordinator, then Mother and the children knelt down in their living room and prayed. Each of them took turns praying.
“Dear Jesus, please help James right now,” Jenny prayed, “Please give the doctors wisdom to know what to do, and what is wrong with him. Please have Your way through his sickness, that You would be glorified.” Jenny had heard her mother pray with these words repeatedly for different people and as Jen prayed she meant them with all her heart. “Please help all of his family as they go to the hospital. Help them all to trust you. Please help Terri,” Jenny paused, contemplating how she should pray, “to trust you, and to realize how much she needs to serve you. Thank you for being with your people, even in hard times. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Terri went with her mother to the hospital to see James after he was out of the emergency room and into a private room. He was so weak that he was only allowed visitors for 10 minutes at a time. Terri was scared to go in the room, but she really wanted to see James. He was lying so still on the bed, and he was so pale. He had a tube coming out of his nose going to a suction device; it was making sucking noises. He had an IV in his arm and Band-Aids where he had been poked several times. It had been hard to get an IV started because of his dehydration. She touched his hand and he did not respond. She watched to make sure he was still breathing. She found he was still breathing, to her relief. She gave her mother a sad look. Mother looked sad too.
“Is he going to be okay?” Terri asked.
“We don’t know yet,” Mother answered. “The doctors did a lot of tests, and there will be more tests tomorrow, to find out what is wrong with him.”
“Why doesn’t he wake up with us here?”
“I think the doctor gave him something to help him sleep because of all the procedures he had had done,” her dad answered. He had stayed in the ER with James while Mother had gone home with Terri.
Terri’s mother decided to stay at the hospital during the night in case she was needed. Terri and her father went home. He made phone calls to update the prayer chains and Terri went to her room to cry.

Thirty minutes later, he found her on her bed, still crying uncontrollably. He sat on her bed and patted her back. “Do you want to talk about it, Terri?” he asked sympathetically.
“I am so worried about James! What if he dies? What if he has cancer or some other awful disease?”
Her dad replied, “I am concerned too, Terri. James could die, or he could have cancer, or something else just as bad. Job said in the Bible, ‘Shall we accept good from the Lord, and not evil?’ Bad things happen even to good people. Bad things happen to children sometimes. God will be with us to give us the grace we need as we need it. He won’t give us that grace until we do need it. But whatever is wrong with James, it is hardest for him to go through—not us. We need to pray for the Lord’s presence to be near him.”
Terri started crying again. “But Daddy, God won’t listen to me when I pray because I am not a Christian. I have been so mean to James, when he tried to help me. I have been nice only when I was getting my way with him. When he wanted to do something I didn’t want to, I fussed and acted awful and said mean things! Why did I ever act that way to him?! I am so sorry now. I see how awful I have been. I don’t deserve to have a nice brother like James. I have treated him worse than anybody.”
“Not only have you treated James badly, but also Mother and Daddy, and most of all, Jesus, Terri. Your selfishness has hurt Jesus the most, because He loves you so much and He died for your sins, yet you have turned Him away. Mother and I have been very grieved about your anger and rebellious ways. But now that you realize the state of your heart, it is time to get right with God!”
Terri got down by her bed. “I do want to get saved, Daddy. Please help me.”
Her daddy said, “It is important that you confess every wrong thing you can remember to God and be really sorry for each one. Think about how you have hurt others and made them feel so badly. Think about how much you have hurt Jesus and be so sorry for all of your sins, so sorry that you never want to do them again, with God’s help.”
Terri began confessing her sins to God, all her meanness, selfishness, her conniving ways, her lies about her brother, her cheating at school, her pretending to be a Christian when she was not, her disobedience to her parents, her sneaking and stealing candy when she didn’t have permission… Her heart was broken with her sin and she realized how it was her sin that caused Jesus to have to die on the cross. When she couldn’t think of any more specific sins, she told God, “You know all the other wrongs I have done that I can’t think of right now. I am sorry for all I have done against you and against my family and people I know. I want you to forgive me and wash away all my sins with the blood you shed on the cross. I want you to clean me out and live in my heart and make me a new girl who can be a good sister, daughter, and friend. I want to give my life to you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.” Terri felt clean and new inside!
“Jesus did it, Daddy! He forgave me and came inside my heart!! I am so happy to have that load of bricks out of my heart!”
Her daddy was so happy, too. He had prayed for this day for 10 years! He suggested, “Let’s call Mother on her cell phone and let her know this wonderful news.”
They did. Mother was so happy. She was having another 10 minutes with James, and he was awake. She put the phone to his ear and let him hear the news.
Terri said, “James, I have been such a mean sister to you, but I am a new girl now. Will you forgive me for the awful way I have treated you?”
James was glad to forgive her. Terri told him that she loved him and wanted him to get well.
James’ tests came back the next day with the news that he had had food poisoning and he would recover! He needed the IV fluids for two days, and then he was able to come home. He was weak, but so happy to be home and to have a sister who now loved him and Jesus! He even said it was worth being sick if it brought his sister to realize her need of the Lord.
When Terri’s mother called Jenny’s mother and told her all the news, Jenny’s family rejoiced with them. There was rejoicing in heaven too, that another sinner had gotten right with God!
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story Age 10 – Merilee B.

Dear Diary,
I am so happy. Grace Elizabeth was born today. She weighed 6 lbs. and 3 oz. She is 18 inches long and has black hair and almost black eyes. She was born at 7:30 this morning.
I am so happy because I have prayed for a baby sister for a long time. It’s neat because I was born on Grandma’s birthday, Gordon (now 12) was born on Easter day, Jordon (now 3) was born on Christmas day, and now Grace is born on Thanksgiving day.
This is the best Thanksgiving I have ever had. I have so much to be thankful for.
With love, Jenny (10)
Copyright GGN

Jenny Age 11

Jenny Story – Age 11 – Joy A.

“It is such a beautiful day," thought Jenny as she walked with Gordon to school. She had been so excited to be out of school, and be able to be outside and play more, but now she was ready to get back to school and see all her friends more often. She had gotten to see them at church on Sunday during the summer, but not many other times. She was excited because this year she was eleven, and would be in the sixth grade. She wondered what this year would bring, and if there would be any new students at the school and any new friends.
“Well, one thing for sure,” she thought, “I will still have my old friends.” Ruthie and Ida were two of her best friends. All three of them were in the same school, same grade, and went to the same church. They had been friends as long as Jenny could remember. Jenny was excited to be able to see them every day now!
As Jenny entered the double doors of the school building, she saw Ruthie over by the window looking around. Jenny waved, and Ruthie waved back.
“Hi!” Ruthie exclaimed, giving Jenny a big hug. “It is good to see you again!”
Jenny nodded and asked, “Which room is ours this year?”
“The list is posted over there; I haven’t looked yet,” Ruthie replied and started waving at Ida who was just coming in.
When Ida saw them she waved and came over. After she had greeted them, she whispered, “Did you see that new girl?”
Ruthie frowned, “Which one?” she asked.
“The one that has really bright red hair and wrinkled clothes?”
Jenny looked around; finally she spotted the girl sitting on the bench in the corner. “Wow,” said Jenny, “She really does look like a mess. I wonder what grade she is in.”
“I don’t know; I just hope it isn’t ours,” Ida retorted. “She looks like she needs a bath or something, and we sure don’t need someone to ruin our class!”
Ruthie nodded in agreement.
“I’m going to go over and look at the list and see what room we’re in, because class starts in ten minutes and we need to hurry,” Jenny announced, as she went to look at the list.
As the giggly, chatting girls later walked to their classroom, Jenny noticed the red haired girl coming down the hallway behind them, and wondered if she would be in their class, but soon forgot about it as they rushed in the room and quickly looked around for seats near each other. They made it just in time, because they had scarcely sat down when the bell rang. Their first day of school was started.
Time flew and finally it was time for lunch. It was an easy day at school. Everyone had to say their name and how their summer went, and all different things like that. Jenny liked their teacher. She seemed like a really nice lady. Kelly was the red haired girl’s name, and she was in their class. Jenny sighed. She wondered how their year would go.
At lunch all Ruthie and Ida could talk about was Kelly and how she smelled, and looked awful, and on and on. At first, Jenny agreed and went along with them, but after a little while, she was starting to feel a little bit uncomfortable. Would Jesus be pleased with everything they were saying about Kelly? The verse came to her mind that she had learned in Sunday School last week: (John 15:19) “These things I command you, that ye love one another.” Jenny didn’t know what to do. She thought about it all day, and as she walked home.
That night during devotions, Dad got the Bible out and turned to where they had been reading. “Tonight we are in chapter two in II Kings,” Dad remarked and started reading. It was about when Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot and Elisha took his mantle, and the chapter went on about Elisha. All of a sudden Jenny sat up straight and listened. It was saying that some children mocked Elisha about his bald head, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord, and two bears came out of the woods and tore them up!
All Jenny could think of was what she had said about Kelly that day, making fun of how bad she looked and her red hair. Jenny felt horrible. What was she going to do? What if Ruthie and Ida got upset at her, and wouldn’t play with her if she was nice to Kelly?
“You look deep in thought, Jenny.” Mother commented after they had finished their family devotions, “What is on your mind?”
Jenny turned red and hung her head, and then told Mother about everything that had happened that day at school. “What am I going to do, Mother? I feel horrible, but I don’t know what to do!”
Mother looked soberly at her. “First, you need to ask Jesus to forgive you, because you have not shown His love, by talking badly about someone else.”
Jenny nodded, and Mother and she knelt down and had a word of prayer right then. Jenny felt like a big load fell off her shoulders, as she knew Jesus forgave her. After they prayed, Mother continued, “Now, Jenny, can you tell me what else you need to do?”
Jenny nodded, “I need to ask forgiveness of Kelly, and be friendly to her no matter what the other girls say. Then, I should ask Ruthie and Ida to forgive me for not acting as a Christian should.”
Mother nodded and gave Jenny a smile and a hug. “I’m glad that you’re doing what Jesus would want you to do. It makes Jesus happy and me, too! You remember tomorrow I will be praying that Jesus will give you strength. Now run off to bed!”
As Jenny crawled into bed, she thought about what she had to do the next day. It was kind of scary, but she knew that Jesus would be with her, and she knew it was the right thing to do.
The next day at school, Jenny was nervous. There hadn’t been time for her to talk to Ruthie and Ida before class time, and what she needed to tell them was weighing on her mind. She hoped she would be able to talk to them at recess. She noticed that quite a few of the kids were being rude to Kelly, and Jenny felt bad, because she knew that Ruthie, Ida and she had had a lot to do with that. The morning seemed to drag on forever, and Jenny had a hard time concentrating.
Finally it was time for recess, and everyone seemed relieved to be outside for a break. Ruthie, Ida, and Jenny walked slowly to the playground. Jenny knew that she needed to tell them now; she just didn’t know how to start. “Dear Jesus,” she prayed, “Please help me and give me courage, and help them to understand.”
Jenny cleared her throat. “Girls, I have something I need to talk to you about.” Ruthie and Ida looked at her and nodded. “Yesterday after school I was thinking back over my day, and I was really feeling bad about what I said about Kelly. I know she doesn’t look the greatest, but she still is a person, and I’m sure she has feelings. I shouldn’t have said anything bad about her. I wanted to ask your forgiveness for talking about her at all.”
Ruthie and Ida glanced at each other, and then Ruthie quietly said, “I forgive you, Jenny.”
Ida nodded in agreement. “I do, too.”
Jenny sighed in relief, “Thank you so much. I am going to talk to Kelly at lunch and ask her to forgive me, too.”
The girls were quiet the rest of the recess. All of them were thinking about what had been said. Jenny was praying and asking the Lord to help her, because talking to Kelly would be just as hard as or harder than asking Ruthie and Ida to forgive her.
Soon it was lunch-time, and Jenny looked around for Kelly. She needed to talk to her now, before the day was over and she lost her courage. When she couldn’t seem to find Kelly, she started walking to the cafeteria. Ruthie, Ida and Jenny sat down and got their lunches out. None of them had very much to say, and Jenny was preoccupied with looking around for Kelly.
“Do you see Kelly anywhere?” Jenny asked the other girls. Ruthie and Ida also looked around, as the cafeteria filled with children.
“I don’t see her anywhere,” Ida said.
“Me either,” said Ruthie.
Jenny was puzzled. Where could Kelly have gone to skip lunch? She had to come to the cafeteria sometime. All of a sudden an idea came to Jenny. “Do you think she might be in the restroom?” she asked.
Ruthie and Ida both shrugged their shoulders. “Save my place; I’m going to go check.”
With that Jenny scooted her chair back, and walked down to the restroom. As she went inside, it appeared to be empty. Jenny sighed. What was she going to do if she couldn’t find her? Just then Jenny heard a sniffle. Where had that come from?
Jenny walked down to the end of the restroom where there was a small space between the wall and a stall door, and there was Kelly hunched up, crying.
“What’s wrong, Kelly?” Jenny asked.
Kelly buried her face in her hands and mumbled, “I hate it here. It is miserable; nobody likes me at all, and everybody calls me names.”
Jenny felt very badly that she had ever said anything mean. “I am so sorry, Kelly. I have been trying to find you to ask you to forgive me for saying some mean things yesterday. Jesus showed me that it was wrong and I want to apologize and be your friend.”
Kelly continued sniffling, but she looked up. “Do you really mean that?” she asked.
Jenny nodded, and her eyes filled with tears. “I feel so bad about it, but I can’t take back the words I said. But I will try to make it up to you by being a good friend.”
Kelly dried her tears, “I forgive you, and I want to be your friend,” she said. Jenny gave her a big hug.
“Are you going to come to the cafeteria for lunch? You can sit with me if you want.”
Kelly nodded and grabbed her sack lunch. When they reached the cafeteria, Jenny found her place, and Kelly sat down beside her. Ruthie and Ida looked a little uncomfortable, but both tried to be friendly. When lunchtime was over, the four girls walked down the hall together.
Ruthie and Ida exchanged glances, and then Ida said, “Kelly, we want to ask your forgiveness for the bad things we’ve said about you. We are really sorry, and we want to be your friends.
Ruthie nodded.
Kelly smiled, and lowered her head. “Thank you all so much for being friendly with me. I hope that we will become good friends.”
Jenny felt so good; she knew she had done the right thing, and she knew that Jesus was pleased with her. “Thank-you Jesus for helping me make right what I had done wrong,” Jenny prayed. “Help me to be a good friend to Kelly, and show her that Jesus loves her.” Jenny wondered if Kelly knew anything about Jesus. If she already did, that was great, but if she didn’t, Jenny wanted to try to show her how Jesus could change her life. “She looks like she comes from a pretty rough home,” Jenny thought. “I hope that I can help her and be a good friend.” Jenny sighed. It was so good not to be feeling guilty anymore, and to know that everything was in the clear again with her Savior and her friends.
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story - Age 11 - Janet and Beth A.
Glenn and Wilma Sechler were neighbors of the Johnsons. Wilma was homebound due to her ill health, but Glenn was always out and about in town and coming by to visit. He would come by the Johnsons’, dragging an old vacuum cleaner (or some such thing) in tow, and say to them, "Look what I found in the Adams’ trash-pile today! I just can’t believe the wonderful things people throw away! Would y’all happen to be needing a new sweeper?"
One Saturday in June when Glenn came he asked Jenny’s dad, "Do you think you could spare your son this afternoon? I am needing somebody else to mow my yard since Billy Marcus can’t do it for me anymore."
Dad said, "Sure, I’ll send Gordon over about one o-clock." So Gordon went over that afternoon. Not only did he mow, but Glenn came out of the house and asked him to weed and then pick grapes. After he got done with all of that, and Glenn had paid him $2, he went home for supper. He worked for Glenn every week, doing as much yard work as he needed done.
Then one week, after Gordon was done with the yard work, Glenn said, "Could you help me flip our mattress? And I have some dishes that need to be done."
"Yes, sir, I’d be glad to help." As they climbed the steps into the kitchen from the back door of their house, Gordon looked around. It was an old house, so it was a completely different style from the Johnsons’ newer one. He noticed that the sink was full of dishes. They went into the bedroom to flip the mattress. As they flipped the mattress, Gordon saw lots of $100 bills and a gun!
Glenn, noticing Gordon’s looks of surprise and fright, made light of it all, "Yeah, that’s our bank and the armed security guard!"
As Gordon continued working for him, he noticed Glenn was short of breath and soon after that, he began wearing oxygen continuously. He told Gordon that he had a heart condition.Soon Gordon was coming every day to help the Sechlers by doing the dishes, cleaning house, taking out the trash or whatever needed to be done for small pay, in addition to the weekly mowing.
One day he thought, I don’t really have enough time to come every day because of school and my other mowing jobs; maybe Jenny would like to help them out with the housework after school like I’ve been doing, and I could just mow and do yard work for them. I’ll ask Jenny if she’d like to do it.
"Sure, if they would let me," Jenny replied when Gordon asked her. "We should ask Mom and Dad."
After getting permission from her parents and after Gordon had spoken to Glenn and Wilma about it, Jenny started going to their house to help after school every weekday and on Saturdays. As she would do the dishes and clean up the kitchen she would visit with Wilma, who was usually sitting in her wheelchair in the living room. Jenny would talk about the Lord and her family, and Wilma would talk about life back when she was a girl, and growing up, and even about her adult life.
"I used to be a telephone operator, before I got married," Wilma told Jenny. "I worked with several other ‘girls’. We were great friends; and we’d know all the gossip in town ‘cause of visiting with the people while we plugged them in to talk to whoever they wanted to."
On another day eleven-year-old Jenny asked, "Did you go to Sunday School or church when you were a little girl?"
"Yes, honey. Even though we don’t make it out to church these days, I’ve been reading my Bible every day," Wilma replied. "But, my eyes are getting so bad, you know, that it’s getting difficult to read."
"Would you like me to read the Bible to you when I get done with my work?" Jenny offered.
"That would be lovely, honey."
After Jenny finished the dishes she sat down in the living room and asked, "What would you like me to read to you?"
"Would you read me Psalm…" she paused, thinking, "Psalm 86."
"…Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore…" Jenny read. After she had read from several passages, Jenny asked, "Would you tell me about your relationship with God?"
"The Lord saved me when I was forty-four, about a year after Glenn and I got married. When I left home and got a job and all, I had quit going to church, but then I was invited to a special revival meeting at the church and I got right with God. I went to church after that as long as I was able, but now I can’t," Wilma answered. "Some of the church people still come to see me sometimes."
"What about Glenn; is he a Christian?" Jenny asked curiously.
"Nope, he says he doesn’t need religion. It’s good enough for me to have it for the both of us. I always pray for him, that he will give his heart to the Lord," Wilma said, shaking her head.
"Well, why don’t we pray right now before I leave and we can pray for Glenn."
"That would be good. Go on, Dearie," Wilma urged.
"Our Father in Heaven, thank You for this wonderful day You have made. Thank You for letting me come over here and have devotions with Wilma, and that we can enjoy Your presence together. Lord, we want to pray for Glenn, that he will realize that he needs you to save him from his sin and to live in his heart. Lord, please call to him today. Please bless Wilma, and make her a witness and a blessing to Glenn. Please give them both the physical touch that they need. In Jesus’ name, Amen," Jenny prayed.
As Jenny got her jacket on and was getting ready to leave, Wilma said, "Why don’t you take a few of the animal crackers in that bowl and give them to your younger brother and sister."
"Thanks," Jenny said and took a few. "Bye!" she called.

Jenny continued to go and help them nearly every day for several months. In December, Glenn secretly called Jenny over to him and asked her to make a German chocolate cake for Wilma’s birthday as a surprise. Jenny was glad to do it, and Wilma was blessed by being remembered in that way.
Jenny tried to read the Bible to Wilma every day and have prayer with her. Then in February, as both Glenn and Wilma’s health deteriorated, they moved to the nursing home. The Johnsons went to see them each Sunday afternoon. All of the elderly people in the nursing home loved to see their family. Some Sundays when they visited, Jenny or her Mother would read the Bible aloud to them. The Johnsons always prayed for the Sechlers every day, especially for Glenn’s salvation.
One day when they went to see the Sechlers, Glenn’s breathing was especially labored. Jenny was very concerned and asked her dad to talk to Glenn about his salvation. He stayed behind after the family left and asked Glenn if he was ready to meet God if he should die. Glenn was willing to admit that he was worried about that and wanted to know how to get saved. Pete Johnson explained the way of salvation and prayed with Glenn. Glenn said that the weight of sin was gone!
The next time the Johnsons went to visit Glenn and Wilma, they took a small tape player and the New Testament on tape for them to listen to, and prayed with them. Both of them testified that they were ready to meet the Lord with peace in their hearts.
They both died soon afterward. The Johnson family was happy that they had gotten to be in the Sechlers’ lives and to know that they were both right with God when they died.
Copyright GGN

Jenny Age 12

Jenny Story Age 12 – Beth A.

As the Johnson family was having their Bible reading time on the morning of December 25, the pastor of a church in a distant town called.
“Hello. Yes, this is Bro. Johnson,” Jenny’s dad answered the phone. “Yes, at our exit? Okay I think I can do that. All right, talk to you later. Bye.”
After Dad got off the phone he said, “The neighbors of Bro. Dolton’s (the Wiles) are having car trouble. They are at our town’s exit ramp. They have 2 boys and a baby girl. Bro. Dolton just asked me if we could let them stay here today and try to help them fix their car.”
“But what about how we were going to have Uncle James and Aunt Emma here for Christmas dinner?” twelve-year-old Jenny asked.
“Well, if you help me, we can have the Wiles, and James and Emma here for dinner,” Mother said. “Bro. Dolton has requested prayer for the Wiles before when we have visited his church. They need the Lord. Maybe we will have an opportunity to witness to them.”
Gordon and Dad went in their van to pick up Mr. and Mrs. Wile. Meanwhile Jenny and Mother started preparing dinner.
As Dad invited the Wiles in he introduced the family, “This is Keith, Paula, John, Hunter, and Baby Ida.” Jenny looked at each member of the family and fixed their name in her mind.
Keith Wile was kind of creepy looking, with a pony-tail and rough face. Paula, the mom, had messy hair and sad eyes. The boys probably ages four and five, looked like they were wild. Jenny thought, “Jesus, help us to love them like You do. You love this family very much. Help us to lead them to You.”
Dad knew a lot about cars and how to fix them and had some supplies. Dad tried to find a tow-truck that would tow on Christmas Day. Then he remembered his acquaintance across town who had a mechanics shop and gave him a call.
“Hello. This is Pete Johnson. I have someone here whose car is broken down at Exit 113. I was wondering if you could help us. I wouldn’t expect you to give up your Christmas to help fix it, I was just wondering if you could pick up the car and bring it here. Yes, I looked at the car when I went to pick the family up and I think I have the stuff I need to fix it. Okay. Thanks. Bye.”
Mr. Simmons towed the car for them and brought it to the Johnsons’ so Pete and Keith could work on it.
“Have you eaten this morning?” Mother asked.
When they answered “no,” Mother offered them sandwiches.
Mother had Jenny make sandwiches for them. Jenny, Jordon, and Grace played with the Wile boys, while Paula took care of Ida and watched Mother in the kitchen. The Johnsons did whatever they could to be a blessing to Keith, Paula, and the children.
At noon Uncle James and Aunt Emma came over for dinner with their two children. As they ate dinner, the conversation was about God’s hand of love in each person’s life and the gift of Jesus at Christmas. Uncle James and Aunt Emma were Christians and were able to show God’s love to the Wiles.
After dinner when Aunt Emma was talking to Paula, she said, “God loves you and me very much. He loves each one so much that He wants to have a personal relationship with us. But our sin has separated us from God. He made a way for us to come back to Him, by sending His Son Jesus to die for our sin. If we are sorry for our sin and ask Him to forgive us for our sin He will save us, then we will have a personal relationship with Him.”
Paula listened intently to the Good News that Aunt Emma had to share with her. But she put off getting right with God.
In the afternoon, Jenny used her Bible flannel-graph set to tell John and Hunter the CHRISTmas story. Dad got the car fixed and the Wiles were on their way home by evening. Although the Johnsons did not see an immediate effect, some months later they heard from Pastor Dolton that the Wiles had come to know Jesus as Savior.
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story Age 12 – Elizabeth C.

“Jenny,” her father called, “I want you to come down here, please.”
“Coming,” answered 12-year-old Jenny as she ran down the stairs. “Yes?”
“Come sit down by me,” he said. “I want to talk to you all. I have prayed about it and have decided to join the army.”
“Oh, Daddy,” cried Jenny.
“That is what I want to talk to you about. I want all of us to have our own prayer meeting. If any of you are not saved or just want to tell me or your mother something, you are more than welcome to do so.”
Jenny was crying by then.
“Mother and Daddy, will you please pray with me?”
“Of course,” said Father. After they were through praying, Father said, “I have to leave in a couple of weeks, but now I know that if I die, I will meet my whole family in heaven.”
“How long will you be gone? asked Gordon.
“I don’t know,” said Father.

The day came when Father had to leave. First, he hugged Mother, then Gordon, then Jenny. “Keep God first and obey your Mother.”
Then he hugged Jordon and then little Grace.
He said, “I want all of you to know that I love you and will keep God first. And I will pray for you every day. You will each find something for you on your beds. I will see you again in heaven if not on earth. I love you.” And he was gone.
When Jenny went inside she found a beautiful Bible on her bed. She made herself a promise that she would learn to accept the change and read her Bible every day.
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story Age 12 – Audrey S.

Jenny thought she had everything going for her. She was doing well in school; she had a few close friends. She was happy. Then all that changed. She was walking down the hallway at school when her friend, Ruthie, ran up breathless and crying.
“What’s wrong?” Jenny asked, concerned about her friend.
“My parents told me…last night…oh, Jenny, we’re moving away!” Ruthie said trying to catch her breath.
Jenny stood there, stunned by what her dear friend had just said. “Why?”
“My dad’s company decided to move him to another branch.”
“Where are you moving to?” Jenny asked.
“Texas.”
“No. That’s so far away. I can’t believe you’re moving,” Jenny said starting to cry. But then she thought of something. “You know Ruthie, I’m going to pray that they keep your dad here. God still answers prayer. Right?” she said wiping away her tears.
“Hey, that may work. You’re right. God does answer prayer,” Ruthie said. “I’m going to pray the same thing.” The bell rang, interrupting their conversation.
"Gotta go. Call me later,” Jenny said hurriedly, not wanting to miss her class.
“I will.”
Later that day Jenny knelt beside her bed to say her prayers. “Dear God, Thank you for this day and all that you have given me. Thank you for my family and my friends. God please keep Ruthie here. I don’t want her to go. Make her dad’s company change their mind about moving him. Please. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.” Jenny got up and climbed into bed feeling confident that God would answer her prayer.
A few weeks passed and Jenny learned that Ruthie’s family was to move at the end of the month. Before she knew it, it was the night before they were to leave. Jenny found herself in her bedroom prayers: “God I don’t understand. I prayed that you would keep Ruthie’s family here. They’re still leaving tomorrow. I thought you still answered prayer.” She got into bed feeling hurt. All her life she had been told that God answered prayer. She had prayed and God had not answered.
The next day she and her mom were in Ruthie’s driveway saying goodbye. ” Ruthie, I can’t believe you’re still leaving. I’ll never see you again,” Jenny said tearfully.
"Oh, come on. You and I will still visit. And there’s always e-mail.”
”Promise you’ll write?” Jenny asked.
“Of course. As long as you do,” Ruthie promised.
“Of course I’ll write,” Jenny said promising as well.
“Ruthie, we’ve got to leave now,” her mom called.
“I’ll be just a second,” she called back.
“I’ll miss you but you’ll always be my friend,” Ruthie said.
“I hope so. I’ll miss you too.”
“Goodbye.”
Jenny started crying. “Goodbye.” Then Ruthie got in the car, waved, and they left.
Jenny got in their car and buckled her seatbelt while her mom got in. There was silence as they drove away. Suddenly Jenny spoke, breaking the silence. ”I prayed, Mom. I prayed that God would keep them here. Why? Why didn’t he answer?” she asked.
”Jenny, God doesn’t always answer our prayers our way. Sometimes He answers them in a completely different way. But God always answers them with the best interest in mind,” her mom replied.
“But how is Ruthie moving away the best thing?” Jenny asked.
“I don’t really know. We may never know. But always remember, Jenny, God always answers prayer. Always.” Jenny thought about that for a while and she started to understand. It was hard for her. Her best friend was gone. But now she was at peace with the fact. After that she started to pray differently. She prayed for God’s will instead of her own.
A few weeks later Jenny was standing in the hallway at school when a girl walked up. “Hi. My name is Mandie, and I’m new here. I thought maybe we could be friends,” the girl said.
Jenny smiled. “You know, I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.”
Copyright GGN

Jenny Age 13

Jenny Story Age 13 – Beth A.

“The church picnic this afternoon is going to be lots of fun,” Jenny thought. “It starts at 4 o’clock. I better get these other things done on time, so that I can get ready to go.”
The ringing phone interrupted her thoughts and brought her back to the math lesson that she was working on.
Later, her brother, Gordon, said, “Have you heard?”
“What?” she asked and looked at Mother.
“Mrs. Emerson, from across the street, just called and wants you to baby-sit the twins, while she takes Steven to the doctor,” Mother answered. Steven was four.
“What time?” thirteen year old Jenny asked.
“From 1:30 to whenever they get back from the doctor appointment.”
“Okay.”
At 1:28 Jenny went to the Emersons’ house. “I am planning to go to a picnic this afternoon at 4 o’clock. Do you think you’ll be back by then?” Jenny asked.
“I should be back before that, and then you can go to the picnic,” Mrs. Emerson replied and handed Jenny a five dollar bill.
All went fine. Jenny played with the one year old twins, gave them a snack, and put them down for a nap. By 4:00 Mrs. Emerson had not come home. The twins, John Ethan and Jeanette, were sound asleep. Jenny wondered to herself if Mrs. Emerson would be coming soon.
“The children are totally asleep, so I could probably go to the picnic, and soon Mrs. Emerson will come home with Steven. I might just do that, because she said that they wouldn’t be gone long.” Jenny walked across the street to her house and thought about the babies and the picnic. She imagined all the terrible things that could possibly happen to the babies while she was gone: they might wake up and be scared and do something dangerous, what if the house started to burn and they wouldn’t be able to escape, what if...
Across town Jenny heard a fire truck that seemed to be coming this way! “No. This isn’t right of me. I am going to go back to their house and take care of them,” Jenny said determinedly. “People are of more value than picnics or anything else.”
When she got there John Ethan and Jeanette were awake and crying. They were wondering if they had been left alone.
She held them and sat in the rocking chair singing to them and saying, “I’m sorry I left you here all alone. You are of much more worth than a picnic.”
They were comforted to know that someone was there and was taking care of them. After a few minutes Mrs. Emerson and Steven came in.
“Thank you so much for staying with the children. I’m sorry we’re late. The doctor had several emergencies come up, so we had to wait a long time.”
“Well, for a few minutes I left the house and was thinking of going to the picnic. But the Lord showed me all the bad things that might happen to the twins while I was gone; so I came back. I learned that people are of much more value than picnics and pleasure. I would be happy to stay longer if you need to take care of Steven without having to watch the twins,” Jenny volunteered. “Thanks for offering, but I’d like to let you go to your picnic now. Here are 2 more dollars.” Mrs. Emerson said gratefully.
“Thank you!” Jenny smiled and said good-byes to the children. Jenny had a wonderful time with her friends at the picnic.
Copyright GGN

Jenny Age 15

Jenny Story Age 15 – Beth A. & Rowen A.

Jenny woke up at 6:22 Saturday morning to the sound of the phone ringing. Since Mother was not answering the phone Jenny answered and said, “Hello, Johnson’s residence.”
Mother’s voice on the phone said, “Jenny, this is Mother. I have gone to the Emerson’s house because they only have one car working right now and Mrs. Emerson took Mr. Emerson to work. I need to continue watching Steven, John Ethan, and Jeanette because of an accident that happened. She was driving home after dropping him off at work and her car was hit on the rear driver’s side. She is in the hospital getting X-rays and tests. So I came over here while you were still asleep to watch the kids. I am going to get them breakfast and get them all ready for the day, then I’ll bring them over there and they’ll spend part of the day with us. I want you to get yourself ready for the day and make sure Gordon is up. Get Jordon and Grace up, and make some breakfast.”
“O.K. Is that all you need me to do?” Jenny replied.
“Yes, that’s all. I’ll see you around 8:30. Love you,” Mother said.
“Love you too. Bye.”
‘Today is my birthday,’ Jenny thought to herself. ‘Now I’m 15! I have been sad about Daddy dying this year, but I know that he is with Jesus. The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful Mother, two brothers and a sister that are all blessings to me. Even if it is my birthday, I have a responsibility to fulfill right now.’
Jenny got dressed and woke up Gordon, Jordon, and Grace. The kids all had some breakfast. Then they had their personal devotions. “Today is Saturday, so we need to clean the house,” Jenny said to Gordon.
Then Mother came home with the Emerson children. They all did their regular Saturday chores as well as watching and playing with the children.
No one even said “Happy Birthday!” to Jenny all day and she was very tempted to feel sorry for herself. No one noticed that it was her special day, until Gordon, when looking at the calendar noticed this written, ‘Jenny, 15th Birthday’. ‘That’s today!’ he thought and went to tell Jenny ‘Happy Birthday’.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Why didn’t you remind us? We have been too busy today to even notice! I am very sorry, Jen,” said her brother lovingly.
Then he went to Mother and reminded her that it was Jenny’s birthday.
“I forgot,” Mother said. “I have a letter to give her from Daddy and a few little gifts for her. She will be so pleased when she reads this letter from Daddy.”
Mother got everyone together. They sang “Happy Birthday!” and she opened her gifts. “Thank you all for these wonderful gifts,” Jenny said.
Last of all Mother said, “Jenny, I really appreciate your wonderful attitude today. Even though we all forgot to make this a special day for you, you did not get frustrated at all, and you were very sweet. We all love you. I have been saving you the best gift for last. Here is a letter from your daddy.”
She gave Jenny a hug and the letter. “Thank you, Mother, and all of you,” Jenny replied.
Jenny went to room to read the letter. As she opened it she read on the envelope: To my sweet daughter, Jennifer Rachelle, to be read on her 15th birthday, with love from Daddy. Jenny swallowed a lump in her throat as a tear trickled down her cheek. She held in her hand a letter from her father who had died five months ago in “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. When Pete Johnson was sent to Iraq he realized that there was some possibility that he might die. So, he wrote each of his children a long, precious letter as well as several for his wife. If he was alive and well at the time of their birthdays he would send it to them. The army had sent everything of Sergeant Johnson’s to Jenny’s family when he died including all of the letters (except Gordon’s 17th birthday letter which had already been sent). Mother had saved Jenny’s to give to her on her birthday. Here’s what the letter said:

My Dearest Jenny,
I am writing this to you, knowing that I won’t be able to be with you on your 15th birthday. So, sweetheart, Happy Birthday today! I trust that you will have a great day, as you realize how much each one of us loves you and appreciates how you are such a blessing in our family! I am so grateful that you gave your heart and life to our Lord Jesus, and for the way that you have let Him lead you as you have had daily private devotions. It has been a blessing to watch as your spirit has become sweet, your words filled with His love, and you have sweetly taken on many responsibilities in our family. I love and appreciate you, Jenny!
I regret this time that I have to spend away from my beloved family, especially as you, your brothers, and dear little Grace are growing up so fast! I trust that this war will be won soon, and I’ll be able to be home again to stay. If the Lord wills though, that I not make it home… I have some advice for you.
I remember when I was 15, that the world seemed big and exciting, with many adventures to enjoy. I thought life was endless, and everybody and everything was wonderful. As I lived through my teen years, and then my college years, I began to realize that all of those things can only be true if we surrender our lives to Jesus, and live daily to serve Him, and be used by Him. Without Jesus, people’s lives are empty and useless – and sad. Mother and I established our home on Christ, and have tried to train you children to love the things of God and His Kingdom, to seek salvation and live only for Him. So now I want to encourage you to continue to seek God’s will, and God’s way for each step of your life. You can be a tremendous help to Mother, especially when I’m not there. You must be a Christian example to your brothers and sister, in your good attitudes, words, and actions. They look up to you, as they should! You are a fantastic sister!
Jenny dear, keep up with your studies, and your piano practice - I love to hear you practice – it is such a blessing in our home! Someday you’ll be the church pianist, and you’ll be glad that you practiced well. Always obey your Mother, even when it doesn’t seem to make sense. Choose your friends wisely, they can either help you or hurt you. Remember to listen, more than you speak. Spend time with the Lord Jesus everyday, no matter what joys or sorrows life brings – He understands every care, and wants to help you through the difficult times.
Proverb 3:5, 6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Memorize these verses, and the Lord will use them to sustain you and keep you steady during times of temptation and times when people make fun of you, and even during times of deep grief. The Lord has great things in mind for your life, Jenny, and I have confidence that you will serve Him well.
I love you, and I miss you on this your 15th birthday,
Love, Daddy
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story Age 15 – Mary C.

“Anti-peace and pro-war that’s what Jenny Johnson’s for!”
The words cut deep as fifteen-year-old Jenny walked home from the library. Jenny wanted to run. But if she did, she knew it would only make them chase her, and she definitely didn’t want Mama to hear those words.
When Jenny got home; she ran to the kitchen, and setting her books on the table, she burst into tears.
“Why Jenny, what’s wrong?” Mama said as she turned from watering the flowers in the kitchen window.
“I wish they’d stop, Mama. I wish they’d stop!” cried Jenny.
“Wish who would stop, Jenny?” asked Mama.
“It’s Marsha, and Stephanie, and Wilma, the new girls in town. They’re making fun of me-saying that I’m anti-peace and pro-war. Don’t they know the Papa died in ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’ so that they could have the freedom to say that? And that they should be doing all they can to protect freedoms here for our soldiers when they come home? I’m sorry, Mama. I shouldn’t be crying over this.”
“Yes, you should, Jenny. Crying helps you heal. Even Papa cried, and he was the bravest man I know,” Mama said.
“Mama,” Jenny said, “Do you know of anything I can do that will make the girls stop teasing me?”
“Be kind to them, Jenny. Show them that you care for them even if they are mean. It may take awhile, even years, but it will work. I can guarantee that,” Mama answered.
“Thank you, Mama. I feel better now,” Jenny said.

A week later, while Jenny and her older brother Gordon, who was 17, were fishing at the lake, Jenny heard someone crying.
After asking Gordon to hold her pole, Jenny followed the sound. At the bottom of the rocky hill Gordon and she had climbed down thirty minutes ago, Jenny saw Wilma, sitting on the ground crying, with her twisted bike lying beside her.
Jenny ran back to Gordon and told him what she had found. Then both of them, taking their fishing poles with them, went back to Wilma.
When they got there, Wilma said in surprise, “Jenny! Why are you helping me? I don’t deserve it!”
“It doesn’t matter if you deserve it or not, Wilma, you need it,” Jenny said.
“Come on,” said Gordon, “No time for talk! It looks like her foot is broken. Do you want to help Wilma, Jenny, or do you want to carry the bike?”
“I’ll help Wilma,” Jenny answered. “There’s a low spot in the hill to our left. We can take Wilma up that way,” Gordon said.

That Sunday, just before services started, Wilma, who was on crutches, Stephanie, and Marsha came in and sat down beside Jenny.
“We decided to come and see what made you so different from us,” said Marsha.
“Yes, and we won’t make fun of you any more, because we won’t leave here until we have got whatever it is that you have.”
“Oh, Jenny,” Wilma said, as the music was starting, “Thank you for helping me Tuesday, and thank Gordon for fixing my bike. It works just like new!”
“You’re welcome,” Jenny said with a smile. Jenny’s heart was full of joy and she knew that if Papa were here he would be very proud of her.
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story Age 15 – Beth A. & Janet A.

Mother and I were going to go shopping for groceries in a nearby town. Seventeen-year-old Gordon was staying home with 8-year-old Jordon and 5-year-old Grace. I had been wondering about something for a while, and decided to ask Mother about it while we were alone together.
“Mother,” I began, “May I ask you something?”
“Sure,” she replied. “I have been wondering lately why there is such a big gap of years between Jordon and me?”
At this question, Mother looked troubled.
“Mother, did anything significant happen in those years?”
“Yes,” she answered. I watched her, as she looked back in time.
“Two years after you were born, we were expecting another baby. It was a girl, but she was born prematurely. She had some very bad health problems because of this, and she died two weeks after she was born.”
“What was her name?” I asked. “And when was she born?”
“We named her Janessa Lea. She was born June 5th and went to heaven on June 18th.” Mother had a thoughtful look on her face.
“Why didn’t you ever tell us—or talk about it?” I wanted to know.
“Gordon has known about Janessa because he was four years old when it happened and can remember parts of it. I guess we didn’t really want you to have to deal with it when you were young. I have a book of pictures and memories of Janessa I can show you when we get home,” Mother offered.
“Mother, almost all of my life on June 5th we have done something special as a family. Is Janessa the reason for it?”
“Yes, Jen. Throughout the hard time and after the funeral we had for Janessa, your dad and I did a lot of thinking. First of all we thought about how any of us could die anytime. James 4:14(b) says ‘For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away’. Although we had already thought through our responsibility as parents to teach and train our children to love God, Janessa’s very short life reminded us of the importance of our mission. So as a memorial to Janessa and as a reminder of our mission we did something special every year on her birthday. The things we’ve done together also helped your dad and me to value each of our treasures in a special way.”
I smiled at that. “I don’t remember anything about Janessa; I wish I could have known her. Those words you just said though, and the thought of the shortness of life are very important to me right now because of Daddy’s recent death,” I commented, and then asked another question.
“Did you have any problems with bitterness during that time, Mother?” By now we had arrived at the store, but we still sat in the car.
“Jenny, there will always be times of temptation to bitterness. I thought I couldn’t bear to lose my baby, but there were so many things wrong with her that I knew she couldn’t live on this earth. Even breathing was a struggle for her every moment and that was hard to watch. I was relieved that she could go to be with Jesus and not have to suffer any more. I was glad we got to have her for a few days, and it was hard to let her go, but we knew it was best for her. Anytime when something bad happened, your daddy and I had made it a practice to think of what was good and count our blessings. We still had Gordon and you, so that was two blessings. We were young and the doctor thought we could have other healthy children. We had each other. We had one treasure in heaven already. Our church family and our families were very supportive and helpful and we counted them as great blessings.
“Heaven has always been very real because of knowing Janessa is there waiting for us. Now with your daddy gone to heaven too, heaven is even sweeter to look forward to. Of course, God held us in His arms of comfort then, just like He did when your daddy died. Yes, the devil, and sometimes even well-meaning people will tempt us to bitterness when hard things happen, but we can remember how much God loves us, how wise He is, and how He knows what is best. I have prayed many times, ‘Lord, help me not be bitter, but BETTER.’ He has always answered that prayer.”
I found that tears were running down my face and mother’s face. I hugged Mother and held her tightly.
“Thank you, Mother, for telling me about Janessa. Thank you for not getting bitter over it and for sharing your wisdom with me. I want to be a godly woman and mother like you are when I grow up.”
“Jenny, dear, right now you are growing into a godly woman. Always keep tender to the Lord and obedient to His whispers and to His Word. Life will not be easy, but God will build into your life His strength under pressure. He is trustworthy, even when we don’t understand what He is doing. He has the plan that will be best for your life. Always trust Him.”
We wiped our eyes and smiled at each other. This was a time with Mother I would treasure all of my life. “Lord, make me a woman of faith like my mother,” I prayed.
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story Age 15 – Beth A. & Janet A.

As fifteen-year-old Jenny stood in the checkout line with her brother, Gordon, she watched the shoppers in front of her. She always liked to watch how people acted, figure out if they were related to the people they were with, etc. She also made a practice of praying for people who seemed to have special needs. In front of her today was a man holding a 2-year-old, a woman pushing the cart with a baby in the seat, and a grandma who was using a walking stick. Seeing it was almost her turn, Jenny set the package of 10 Hershey bars on the conveyer belt, and nervously fumbled in her purse to get the $20 bill out for paying for the merchandise. She didn’t often buy stuff, so she was always tense as she waited to pay. Just then, Jenny heard a commotion as a large glass jar of baby pickles fell to the floor. She backed up to avoid the sticky pickle juice and closed her purse. She was in a daze as the clerk spoke to Gordon and her, “I’m going to have to ask you to go to another lane to check out.”
“All right,” Gordon responded as the clerk asked for a janitor over the P.A. system. They started towards another lane. As she walked, Jenny was surprised to feel something on her shoe.
She looked down to see a pickle wedged between the tongue of her shoe and her sock. “Ugh!” she said picking it up. “What shall I do with this? Oh, no, it stained my sock!” She found a trash can and wiped her hand on a tissue that was in her purse. “Well,” Jen smiled at Gordon, “I wonder how many crazy things can happen involving us on one shopping spree!? Let’s go try to check out again!” she said teasingly.
Jenny asked Gordon to go first in line. He was also buying a birthday gift for their mom. Finally, Jenny could buy the chocolate for her mom. She felt like she was forgetting something. Ok, think clearly, Jenny, she told herself. She managed to get done and told the clerk “Thank you,” looking her in the eye. She didn’t want to hold up the people behind her taking the time to count the change and make sure it was all correct, so she put the money in her skirt pocket.
When they got into their car, Jenny got the money out of her pocket and looked at the receipt to see if it was all accurate. The total said $10.67. The chocolates had been $10 and the tax $0.67. She looked at the money and knew immediately that there was a problem. She had given the clerk a $20 bill, and had gotten back $14.33!
“Oh, no!” She exclaimed to Gordon. “They gave me a $10 bill in my change when it should have been a $5 bill! What shall we do?”
“I guess we’ll have to go in to the service desk and take the extra money back,” Gordon stated matter-of-factly. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“Of course I want you to come. You know how nervous I get dealing with money and explaining things to strangers.”
Gordon and Jenny went back in the store and stood in the long line at the service counter. Jenny prayed silently that the Lord would help her take care of this problem properly.
When her turn finally came, Jenny took a deep breath and said, “I just checked out a few minutes ago, but I was given $5 too much in change.”
The clerk took the receipt Jenny was holding out and Jenny gave her all the change from her pocket. Jenny felt like everybody in line was watching her. The clerk counted the money and nodded. “You are right! You were given $5 too much. I wonder why that happened?”
Jenny said, “Maybe the clerk was distracted because of the pickle jar crash that had happened in the next lane over. It was quite a mess!”
“I am sorry for the inconvenience to you, but I am thankful for your honesty, young lady! A lot of people would have kept the money instead of being honest. Thank you so much.” The clerk gave Jenny back the appropriate amount of change and smiled brightly at her.
“I always want to have a clear conscience,” Jenny replied. “Wouldn’t it be terrible to miss heaven because of dishonesty?”
As Jenny and Gordon walked away, the clerk and the next people in line who had heard the exchange had new thoughts to think about. Jenny told Gordon, “I really felt God helping me say the right things. He helped me be calm. Thanks for going with me, Gordon.”
“Proud to be of service, Little Sister!” Gordon took her arm and escorted her to the car. She playfully slapped him as he gallantly opened the door with a flourish!

Jenny Age 16

Jenny Story Age 16 – Audrey S.

16-year-old Jenny walked in the door.
“Jenny, is that you?” her mom called out.
“Yes, It’s me, mom,” Jenny replied, sounding very down. Her mom walked in from the kitchen wiping her hands.
“What’s the matter, Jenny?” she asked. “You sound as if you have something on your mind.”
“Oh Mom, the kids at school are teasing me,” Jenny said.
“Why?” her mom asked.
“I won’t go hang out with them when they go hang out in all their weird places,” she answered.
“They want me to go out late at night and hang out with them. They called me names when I said I had to be home. I tried to invite them to church instead but they laughed at me and walked away. Mom, I don’t know what to do,” Jenny finished.
“Jenny, I’m glad you didn’t give in to peer pressure. It’s hard sometimes,” Mom said.
“Mom, what’s peer pressure?” Jenny asked.
“Peer pressure is when someone tries to get you to do something they want. Sometimes they try to get you to do something you know you shouldn’t,” her mom replied. “Jenny, you have to keep praying God will give you strength to stand against them. You also have to keep asking them to church although it may seem useless.”
Jenny, who was feeling a lot better, said, “Ok, mom. Thanks.”
The next day at school Jenny saw the same kids that usually teased her. Jenny prayed a quick prayer as they walked over.
“Oh, there’s Jenny, who won’t hang out with us,” one of the kids teased.
“I wonder if she will now?” another said.
“Jenny, will you hang out with us now or do you have to be home?” they asked.
“No,” Jenny said firmly. “I won’t hang out with you. But if you want to come to church with me, I’d be glad to take you.”
“There she goes with that church thing again.” They laughed and walked off.
Jenny felt defeated. Standing to the side was a girl who had been with the group but had not said anything. She walked over. “My name is Melissa,” she said. “What is so different about you? You keep inviting them to church even when they keep refusing you. Why?”
Jenny replied, “God gives me strength to stand up to them and keep asking them to go.”
“Maybe going to church isn’t so bad after all if it means being able to stand up to them. I’d like to learn more,” Melissa said.
Jenny smiled and knew that her asking wasn’t useless after all. So she took Melissa to church and she got saved all because Jenny didn’t give up. They became good friends, too.
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story Age 16 – Janet A.

One day Jenny met her friend, Bethany, for ice cream. Bethany wanted to talk about her family’s recent vacation to Missouri. Jenny was interested in what they had done on their vacation.
Bethany said, “You know we went to Missouri especially to celebrate my parents’ 25th anniversary, right? Most of what we had planned was a surprise.
My married brothers and their wives had planned everything. They rented a fancy sports car for my parents to drive, and they had to follow us in the van
we were in. They didn’t know where we were going!”
Jenny asked, “Did they have a hard time keeping up with you in traffic?”
Bethany answered, “They did get behind a few times when the light would change after we went through and they had to stop. But we would wait up for them and call them so they knew where to find us. We first went to a restaurant. It was one my parents had always wanted to go to and had never afforded it. Then we drove on to Branson. We knew they would like to go there because they went there
on their honeymoon.”
“What did you do in Branson?” Jenny asked.
“Well, we went to a quilt shop and we all really enjoyed looking at the quilts. We went to an ice cream store. That was yummy. But the main thing was a play we went to that was really great with all the sound effects and animals! It was a play about Noah. It had such a good gospel message at the end. After that, we surprised them with the paper work they needed to stay in a cabin for 2 nights and a day!!”
“Wow! How did they react to that?” Jenny exclaimed.
“The first thing they said was that they didn’t have their clothes or toothbrushes along with them. They didn’t know that I personally had packed everything they needed and it was in the van with us!! They were happy and blessed about it. They had a good time being alone together and relaxing and doing some things together the next day. We didn’t see them again until Saturday morning when they got back with the rental car.”
“What did you do when they were gone?” Jenny asked.
“Well, we ate and then drove back to my brother’s house. The next day was packed full of activities getting ready for the party we had planned for Saturday. We had to shop for food, and then cook meat and chop vegetables, and decorate. We had the party at my aunt’s church and did all of the cooking there too. It was a great facility and we had a lot of
fun working together with each other and my aunts. There were some relatives and some old friends that came to the party and everybody had such a good time together. One of my aunts had brought the wedding dress Mother wore. It was really another aunt’s dress that she borrowed to get married in. I think that meant a lot to my mother to see that dress
there when she arrived! My cousin made a beautiful cake. We had lots of food, ‘way more than enough and it was all yummy. My parents wanted to have a vow renewal ceremony to be an encouragement to others to value their marriage and keep committed to
each other. It was beautiful. And afterwards, each of us kids talked about Mother and Daddy and their marriage and our upbringing. It was really special.”
“It sounds really special. I’m glad you could do it for them. I’m sure they were blessed by it,” Jenny said.
“Oh, they were blessed. They couldn’t believe that we did all that and didn’t go into debt about it. We all put money in and paid for everything. It was a totally different kind of vacation, but so worthwhile,” Bethany said. “But here I have been totally monopolizing
the conversation. What have you been doing lately?”
“Just the usual: school, babysitting, cleaning house, church, sleeping. Nothing really exciting going on. But I do need to run on home. I know Mother will be wanting me to help her with supper,” Jenny replied.
“Thanks for having ice cream with me and listening to all my chatter, Jenny. I’ll see you at prayer meeting!
"Okay. Bye, Bethany!"
Jenny went home feeling all torn up inside. She was happy for Bethany and for her family and for their wonderful 25th anniversary party. But that would never happen for her family. Her daddy was dead, killed in Iraq last year! Why did it have to happen? she wondered for the millionth time.
As she came in the house, her mother looked up and smiled. “Hi, Jenny. Did you have fun with Bethany?”
“I had fun until I was coming home and got to thinking about things.”
“Sit down with me and tell me what you mean, Jenny,” Mother requested.
“Well, Bethany’s family just got back from a wonderful vacation where they did so many nice things for her parents’ 25th anniversary. They were able to honor them, surprise them, and bless them in many ways.”
“Okay, that sounds wonderful. So what happened to you on the way home?”
“Mother, we will never be able to do that for you and Daddy. Daddy is gone, and we will not see him again until heaven. We can’t have a 25th anniversary party for you. It just makes me so sad. It is so unfair that we can’t honor you and Daddy like that. You had a wonderful marriage and were wonderful parents and loved each other so much and would have been a wonderful example of commitment. So how is it fair that Daddy is gone and we can’t ever do
what Bethany’s family did?”
“Honey, are you forgetting the verse we memorized last week? ‘2 Corinthians 10:12: For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.’ Maybe this situation isn’t exactly what the context would be, but I think it says pretty plainly that we should not compare ourselves to others or measure ourselves to
others, because it is not wise. There are several reasons why we shouldn’t. Can you think of one?”
“Well, we could think ourselves better than someone else, but that is not what I’m doing, Mother,” Jenny responded.
“The thought I had was that it is so easy to get discontented with our lot in life, and even get resentful against God, besides jealous of others, if we don’t compare favorably with others. God treats us all differently, but lovingly, and we should not entertain the devil’s notions that God is treating us unfairly. That was how Adam and Eve got into trouble, because the devil convinced them that God was withholding something from them unfairly. Do you understand, dear?”
“Oh, yes, Mother. I see now that the devil was influencing my thoughts to make me angry at God and jealous of my friend, Bethany, and her wonderful family time. I am so sorry I listened to the devil. Thank you for helping me to see it right away, Mother.”
“Let’s pray about it, Jenny. I am thankful that you are willing to share your heart with me and not hide what you are going through. That way we can get things cleared up right away before the devil gets a foothold.”
Mother and Jenny prayed together, asking God to wash away the hurtful thoughts and to keep them trusting His ways, even when they didn’t understand.
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story Age 16 – Brenda S.

(Jenny is at Friday Night Youth group service at her church.)
“Be quiet everyone!” announced Bro. Hunt, “We have a special guest here to tell you all something you might be interested in. We are very pleased to have Bro. and Sis. Paul Masters here with us and they are going to be taking a youth group to a foreign country this summer. Let’s listen as they tell us all about it.”
Jenny sat in her chair dumbfounded as Bro. and Sis. Masters came to the microphone. This is what she had been thinking and praying about. What could she do for the Lord?
Bro. Masters began talking, “As Bro. Hunt said, we are taking a group of young people to Ukraine this summer to help a missionary family over there. We will be there for two weeks, helping in every way we can. While we are there we will be helping with two Vacation Bible Schools, and a revival. We can only take eight kids, so you will have to fill out an application to go. Only those over 15 years of age are eligible to go. The cost of the trip is $1,500 and you will need to get your own passports separately. My wife and I are so excited about this trip and what we can do for the Lord. We know this trip is costly for many of you; but we ask that you go home and talk to your parents; but most of all we would ask that you pray. Thank you for your kind attention; and we are looking forward to having some of you on this trip.”
Bro. Hunt then dismissed with prayer.
“Please come to me for an application if you are interested,” said Bro. Hunt as everyone started talking excitedly.
But Jenny wasn’t so loud. She was thoughtful as she went home. How would she ever earn enough money?
That night she went into her Mom’s room. As she slowly sat down on her mom’s bed, she asked, “Mom, would you ever let me go on a missions trip?”
“Oh, Jenny, I would love for you to go on a missions trip, but how would you earn enough money?”
“I know that God will help me find a way. I think this is something Dad would have wanted me to do.”
Jenny was thrilled when she heard from her application in the mail. She was accepted to go!
Over the next few months, Jenny worked really hard to earn the money. Finally, after delivering many papers on her paper route, having bake sales, and doing other odd jobs, plus money she had received as gifts, she had enough!
She was so excited when the day came to fly to Ukraine. Her mother dropped Jenny off at the airport, where she met up with Bro. and Sis. Masters and the rest of the group. As the huge plane took off she silently prayed, “Lord, I know this is what you want me to do. Please help me to let your love and grace shine through me so that I can reach someone for you.”

Dear Mom,
Wow! I can't believe I am actually here! We have been here a week and the time has just flown by! I suppose you want to know about everything that has happened. I thought we would never get here! I knew it was an eight hour time change before I came, but it really didn't hit me until I was on the plane how big the difference was.
When we landed at Keiv we got our luggage and then met the missionaries. Thankfully all of our luggage came through okay and we met up with the missionaries. I was so tired after being on an overnight flight and everything was so different!
We traveled six hours to the village where the missionaries are working. This past week we have had one Vacation Bible School. We spent each morning preparing for VBS and the revival services. Every day we told different Bible stories at VBS. I had to tell one about Naaman the leper, and it was really a different experience to tell a story through a translator!
We had lots of fun helping with crafts, playing with the kids, and listening to verses. We have had around 30 kids each day and several new kids have come. Several kids have raised their hands for prayer or to ask Jesus into their hearts.
The revival services in the evening have been very good. Bro. Paul Masters has preached through an interpreter also. The attendance of the adults and children at the evening services was not as many as the VBS, but I believe that some of the people were really touched.
We had a program for the Vacation Bible School on Sunday morning. Several of the kids' parents came to see what their kids had done. Each age group of the kids recited a verse, or sang a song. Then we did a silent skit about how the devil tempts us to do wrong things and Jesus is standing pleading with you not to do the wrong. It seemed like it got the point across and was really effective!
Bro. Paul gave a short gospel message after the kids were finished with the program.
Next week we are going to have another VBS in another village up by Keiv. We are going to have evening services and be doing some visitation and inviting people to the services. Please pray for us!
I can't wait you see you again but I so thankful to be useful in His kingdom! I should go and eat now, but I will try to email you later!
Love, Jenny
P. S. Please pray for a girl I met. Her name is Tanya and she knows some English. I would like to be able to talk to her more about the Lord.
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story Age 16 – Beth A.

It was the August after Jenny went to Ukraine on a missions trip. Gordon and she had gone to the Peaceful Valley Holiness Youth Camp. On the drive home Gordon and Jenny had a lot to talk about.
Sixteen-year-old Jenny said, “To be honest, I am not looking forward to school that much. Every year as far back as I can remember there has been terrible peer pressure and teasing from my classmates and teachers. Of course the teachers had to teach us wrong things and principles such as evolution and humanism. Nearly everyday I would come home crying and talk to Mother or Dad about the things I had experienced that day. They would counsel and teach me the truth from God’s Word. I really don’t know why we ever were put in public school. It seems to me that Mother could have homeschooled us as my friend Jessie’s mom does. Oh, and remember earlier this year in March when the kids were making fun of me, and I talked to Mother, and she said to keep inviting them to church? - And then Melissa came to church and got saved. – Oh, I guess some things have been good about public school-like the opportunities to witness. But overall I’m not looking forward to starting school soon.” Jenny continued, “I just don’t know what to do. I don’t know whether or not Mother could home-school us this coming school year…”
“I know!” eighteen-year-old Gordon exclaimed, “We should ask Mother to home-school us this year. Maybe she couldn’t, but we could ask. I have had the same issues in my years of school.”
“But, why hasn’t she until now? I know that she must’ve had a good reason.”
“Jen, the past is the past and we can’t change it. But, we can ask Mother regarding the future,” Gordon replied understandingly. He asked Jenny to look at the map and remind him what road to take and then said, “So what did you think about camp?”
“I think it was really good for me to get away and rest, after all the stress of being in a different culture and language I couldn’t understand earlier this summer. I think it was good to have some time to concentrate on spiritual growth and develop some more friendships. One of the girls I met at camp, Erin Seymour, was such a blessing and encouragement to me. She was the cook’s daughter. Did you get to meet her?
“I think I saw her helping in the kitchen. How was she a blessing to you?”
“She advised me about things that I am going through. Because she is a few years older than me she has gone through some of the things I have. – But, not her dad dying. She gave me some reminders to keep looking to God in every area of my life, and especially in my teen years.”
“That’s good. Yeah, I have appreciated the times when I have been able to talk heart to heart to someone who can encourage me in my real life issues. Remember when dad died and I talked to Bro. Douglas and…”
Just then their cell phone rang. It was their Mother. Jenny put the phone on speakerphone. “Hi, how have you two been?” Mother asked.
“The trip has been fine. The camp was wonderful,” Gordon replied.
“We have missed talking to you, Mother,” Jenny said, “since we weren’t allowed to use cell phones unless it was an emergency. We really missed you and Jordon and Grace!”
“I want to have some time with you two tomorrow, so that we can talk privately. I will be having Mrs. Emerson come over and watch Jordon and Grace. I was thinking that we could go somewhere and talk,” Mother said.
“Ok, is it anything we need to know today?” Jenny asked, concern in her voice.
“No, just pray that we will have wisdom in the situations. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.”
“All right, Mom,” Gordon said, “We’ll be praying about it.”
They said goodbye and hung up.
“I wonder what…” Jenny began.
“We said we would pray about it, so let’s just do that and not worry about it right now.” Gordon said.
Then they prayed, “...Lord, You know what this situation is. You have wisdom and the answer to the need. Please lead and guide according to Your will… And please help us when we talk to Mother about the possibility of home-schooling…”
When they got home they unpacked and told their family all about the camp. Gordon and Jenny showed some pictures to them and visited.
“What happened while we were gone?” Jenny wondered. “We didn’t get to talk to you that whole time and we really missed you.”
“Guess what? The night after you all left, our water heater leaked all over the floor in the basement. It was a mess!” nine-year-old Jordon exclaimed, “Bro. ­Douglas came and cleaned it up and put a new one in. I watched and asked questions. He was really fun to be with! And then he came over and we had supper with him to tell him ‘thank you’…”
“Well, we need to get to bed.” Mother interrupted. “We have all had a big day and I’m sure Gordon and Jenny are tired from their long drive.”
They had prayer and went to bed.
The next day, the Johnsons did their regular morning things.
In the afternoon Mrs. Emerson came over and Mother took Gordon and Jenny to the park in their town. They strolled down to the lake and sat down on a park bench. All was quiet, and there was hardly anybody else at the park.
“Well,” Mother started, “There have been a couple of things I have been considering and praying about for a long time. I wanted to talk to you two first about them.
“I feel like the Lord wants me to start home-schooling you now,” Mother said.
Jenny gasped, a smile at the corner of her mouth. How amazing that she would bring that up, when Gordon and I were talking about it just yesterday! she thought.
“I know that there have been a lot of things through the years that could have hurt you, and I think it is time to teach you myself. I have been researching and gaining information and help from some Christian home-schoolers near here. I know that you, Gordon, only have one year of school left and that Jenny only has two years left, but I think it would be worth it. I would home-school Jordon and Grace, too. What do you think?”
“We were just talking about that yesterday!” Jenny exclaimed, still awed by that fact. “I think it would be a big change, but I think it would be good. I have so many friends in public school like Ruthie, Ida, Melissa, and Kelly, who I’d really miss, but I have had so much trouble with bullies, that I think that is one thing that detracts from learning…”
“I would rather be in a Christian environment, and under the training of my Mother,” Gordon said. “Like Jen said it would be REALLY different and probably hard to get accustomed to.”
“Well, I want you two to pray with me about it for the next week, and then I’ll make a final decision.” Mother said. “I really love you and want the best for you. You were talking about it yesterday?”
“Yeah, just a little before you called and told us you wanted to have some time with us. We just said, to each other, that we wanted to ask you about it – if you could home-school us this coming year.” Jen explained
“Oh, Jenny, what about your goal of becoming a professional volleyball player?” Mother remembered. “Has that changed and how would that affect your desire to be home-schooled?” “I still enjoy playing volleyball,” Jenny started, “but, last year I felt like that extra activity kept me too busy. When I could be doing other things, I was playing volleyball. I think I need to spend less time at it.”
“Well, that’s not all I wanted to talk to you about,” Mother said, trying to figure out how to say what she needed to say next.
“What else?” Jenny’s curiosity was obvious.
“You all know Bro. Don Douglas in our church...” Mother started.
“Yes, Jordon said that he put in a new water heater for us this week,” Jenny remembered.
“He is a master plumber, so he seemed like the logical person to call when we had a disaster like that.
“I’m glad he could fix it for you, Mother,” Gordon said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help.”
“He was such a blessing and he was really kind to Jordon, answering his questions as he worked. As Jordon mentioned, we had him over for a meal because he wouldn’t accept any payment for his services. We had a very pleasant evening. He played games with the kids. I think they really enjoyed that. We had time to visit, just the two of us, and he told me how much our family has been in his prayers since Daddy died. He felt like he could relate to what we have been through because of losing his wife to cancer five years ago. For some time he has been praying about the possibility of finding a new wife, and the only person who comes to mind, is me!”
“Mother! What did you say to that?” Jenny burst out. “Was he serious?”
“It did take me by surprise, Jenny, but I have every confidence that Bro. Douglas is a man of God. I think the Lord has been preparing my heart, too. I don’t know if it will work out that way, but I promised to pray about it, and I wanted you to know so that you could pray too.”
“Mother, isn’t he too old for you? Jenny wondered. “He has gray hair and has to be at least fifty!”
“He’s really only forty-six. He got gray hair when he was going through all that stress with Miriam’s ten year battle with cancer,” Mother answered.
“Mother, I don’t know if all of us are ready for something like this,” Gordon commented, “but I do know that Bro. Douglas has been a real big blessing to me since Dad died, and I know he cares about our family.”
“Mother, how do you feel about it? Did you enjoy being with him? Did you have fun with him?” Jenny asked.
“I did enjoy being with him. He is very kind and he has a gentle spirit. He is very spiritual and I think he would be a good spiritual leader. You know how his son and his family are missionaries in Papua New Guinea, so obviously he did something right in raising his son,” Mother answered.
“But, Mother how can you give up dad’s memory? It’s only been a year and a half since he died. Isn’t that being disloyal to Daddy?” Jenny questioned.
“Jenny, I loved your Daddy completely. We kept our vows to each other until death parted us. Daddy is in heaven with Jesus; he isn’t here anymore,” Mother answered. “Before Daddy went to Iraq we talked about the possibility of how he might not come back. He told me then: ‘If I go to heaven from Iraq and at sometime you have opportunity to marry a good Christian man, I don’t want you to hold back on account of it being disloyal to me. If I am not here to provide for you, I hope that God will give you another provider.’ In fact, Jenny, Daddy wrote that in a letter to me after he was in Iraq, so that I’d have it in writing.” Mother continued, “I don’t know where this will end with Bro. Douglas, but I am willing to give God a chance if he wants to lead that way.”
Copyright GGN


Jenny Story Age 16 – Mary M.

Jenny was in her room thinking about her mother and Bro. Douglas. She thought to herself, “If Mother ever marries Bro. Douglas, will I ever be able to love him as I loved my own precious father?”
As she thought, she began to pray and ask God to help her understand all the changes in her life, and to help her love Bro. Douglas, if he did marry Mother. The Lord softly said, “Jenny, I will be with you at all times and comfort you, if you will only trust in Me.”
The words of the Lord assured Jenny that whatever came her way that God would help her handle it. Jenny’s mother started dating Bro. Douglas and Bro. Douglas kept coming to visit Jenny’s mother and the children. Jenny began to become very excited every time he would come. She could already tell that the Lord was helping her love and appreciate Bro. Douglas’s kindness to her family.
So Christmas Eve came. Jenny’s family always opened up one present on Christmas Eve. When Jenny’s mother opened her gift which was marked “Anonymous”, it was from Bro. Douglas. After she opened the gift and viewed what it was, Bro. Douglas proposed to her. They both had prayed through that God wanted them to be married.
So Jenny’s mother said, “Yes!”
Jenny retired to her bedroom after everybody was doing their own pleasures, and she knelt by her bed and praised the Lord for being just what He had promised. Jenny felt no resentment towards anyone. She felt happy because she had Jesus; also her Mother was happy in the Lord. Jordon and Gordon both were excited about their “new dad”. They all thanked the Lord for His divine leadership in their family’s life.
Copyright GGN