Short Stories : Barnaby and the Morning Sun
- Boundless Team
- Mar 22
- 6 min read
A Message from FA Memphis: Barnaby and the Morning Sun
Once upon a time, in a world that smelled like damp earth and sweet clover, there lived a little bunny named Barnaby. Barnaby was a very small bunny with very long, velvet-soft ears and a tail that looked just like a toasted marshmallow.
Barnaby lived in a cozy burrow tucked deep under the roots of a big, old oak tree. The oak tree was like a giant umbrella that kept Barnaby’s home dry when the clouds cried happy rain. Inside his burrow, Barnaby had a bed made of dried moss and soft feathers he had found near the pond.
Every single morning, something wonderful happened.
Barnaby would be fast asleep, dreaming of giant carrots, when a tiny sliver of light would reach down into his burrow. It was like a golden finger reaching out to tickle his nose. Barnaby would wiggle his pink nose, twitch, twitch, twitch, and slowly open one eye, then the other.
"The sun is awake!" Barnaby would whisper into the quiet morning air.
He didn't just see the light; he felt it. It was a soft, golden glow that chased away the shadows of the night. To Barnaby, the morning sun was more than just a light in the sky.
"God made the sun to give us light and warmth," Barnaby thought as he stretched his little legs. "It feels like a big, warm hug from Heaven."
Barnaby hopped out of his burrow and into the wide, green meadow. The grass was cool and wet with dew, making his paws feel tingly and fresh. Everything was waking up. He stopped to look at the yellow flowers near the edge of the woods. They were slowly opening their petals, stretching out to say hello to the day, just like Barnaby.
Barnaby felt very safe in the big meadow. Sometimes, when you are a very small bunny in a very big world, things can seem a little bit scary. But not this morning. Barnaby knew a secret. He knew that just as God made the big, bright sun to shine over the whole world, God was also watching over one tiny bunny with marshmallow-white fur.
God was there when the stars were out, and God was there when the sun came up.
Barnaby took a deep breath of the morning air. It smelled like sunshine and growing things. With a giant, happy hop and a joyful skip, Barnaby looked up at the sky.
"Thank You, God, for the bright morning light," Barnaby prayed. "And thank You for loving me!"
He spent the rest of the morning hopping through the daisies, knowing he was never, ever alone.
Supplemental Pack: Growing in God's Light
Memory Verse: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." : Psalm 118:24
Coloring Page Idea: Grab your favorite crayons! Imagine a large, smiling sun shining over a soft, fluffy bunny sitting in a field of flowers. Use bright yellows for the sun’s rays and soft greens for the grass. Don’t forget to give Barnaby a very happy face!
Talk About It:
What did Barnaby see when he woke up in his cozy burrow?
How does the sun feel on your skin when you play outside? (Does it feel like a warm hug?)
Who made the sun, the bunnies, and everything else in our beautiful world?
Family Walk & Wonder: A Bible Study for Parents and Kids
Now, let’s pull up a chair and talk for a minute. If you’re a parent reading this with your little one, you know how busy mornings can be. There’s breakfast to make, shoes to find (why is it always just one shoe?), and a million things on the to-do list. But what if we took a cue from Barnaby?
The Heart of the Matter
In Psalm 118:24, we are reminded that today is a gift. Not tomorrow when the chores are done, and not yesterday when things might have gone better. Today. God crafted the sunrise specifically to remind us of His faithfulness. For a child, the sun is a tangible way to understand God’s love. It’s warm, it’s constant, and it shows up even after the darkest night.
Joint Interaction Activity
Take your child to a window or, better yet, step outside for just three minutes.
Ask: "Can you feel the sun on your face?"
Explain: "Just like the sun warms our skin, God’s love warms our hearts. We can’t see God with our eyes right now, but we can see the beautiful things He made for us."
Pray Together: "Dear God, thank You for this brand new day. Thank You for the sun and for Your love that never goes away. Help us to be kind and happy today. Amen."
Think about it: when we start our day acknowledging the Creator, the rest of the day feels a lot more manageable. If you’re looking for more ways to connect as a family, check out our Bible Study Club for more resources.
Raising Little Believers: Tips for Morning Rhythms
We all want our kids to grow up with a deep sense of security in Christ. But how do we move that from a nice idea to a daily reality? Here are a few "Barnaby-approved" tips for your morning routine:
The First Word Rule: Try to make the first words your child hears in the morning words of blessing or joy. Instead of "Wake up, you're going to be late," try "Good morning! God gave us a beautiful new day today."
Morning Songs: Music sticks in a child's brain like nothing else. Play some upbeat worship music while they eat their cereal. It sets a peaceful atmosphere for the whole house.
The "Hug and Thank" Moment: Before they head out the door or start schoolwork, give them a "warm sun hug" and say one thing you are thankful to God for. It teaches them to look for the "yellow flowers" in their own day.
If you’re a leader or volunteer looking to share these ideas with others, we’d love to have you in our Volunteers & Leaders Discussion Group.
Hands-On Faith: The "Sunny Bunny" Plate
This is a low-cost, high-fun craft you can do with things you probably already have in your pantry or craft bin!
Items Needed:
One paper plate
Yellow paint or markers
Yellow construction paper (or white paper colored yellow)
Cotton balls
Glue
Instructions:
Color or paint the center of the paper plate bright yellow. This is your "Morning Sun."
Cut strips of yellow paper and glue them around the edge of the plate to make the sun’s rays.
On one of the rays, glue a few cotton balls to represent Barnaby the bunny hopping along the edge of the light!
Write "God Made the Light" in the middle.
Spiritual Connection Script: "While you glue these rays down, remember that God’s love reaches out to us just like the sun’s rays reach the earth. No matter where Barnaby hops, the sun can find him. And no matter where you go today, God is always with you!"
Serial Story: The Chronicles of Thistle Hollow
Chapter 1: The Hidden Path
This story is for our older explorers, Ages 7–9.
Finley the Fox was not like the other foxes in Thistle Hollow. While his brothers were busy practicing their pouncing, Finley liked to collect things. He had a collection of smooth river stones, three blue jay feathers, and a very old, rusted lantern he had found near the Great Falls.
One afternoon, as the shadows began to stretch across the forest floor, Finley noticed something strange. Near the base of the Ancient Willow, the light was hitting a patch of ivy in a way he had never seen before. It looked like a golden door.
"That’s odd," Finley muttered, his bushy tail twitching with curiosity.
He pushed aside the thick vines and gasped. Behind the ivy was a path made of shimmering white pebbles. It didn't look like the muddy trails the deer used. It looked... intentional.
Finley looked back at his warm, safe den. He knew he should probably go home for dinner. But something in his heart felt a little tug: the kind of tug that tells you an adventure is waiting. He remembered what his grandfather used to say: "The Creator doesn't hide paths for no reason, Finley. If you find one, it's because you're meant to walk it."
Taking a deep breath, Finley stepped onto the white pebbles. As soon as his paw touched the stone, his old, rusted lantern gave a tiny, unexpected flicker of light, even though there was no candle inside.
Finley's heart thudded in his chest. He wasn't sure where the path led, but for the first time in his life, he wasn't afraid of the deep woods. He felt like he was being invited into a story much bigger than himself.
He took one step, then another, as the golden light of the setting sun guided his way. The adventure of Thistle Hollow had officially begun.
To be continued...
Whether you are waking up with a toddler like Barnaby or watching your older children start to find their own "paths" in faith, remember that the same God who created the morning sun is walking beside you.
If you’re new here and want to learn more about our community, stop by our I'm New Q&A Welcome Center. We would love to meet you!
You can also find some great gear for your family adventures, like our Stainless Steel Water Bottle, perfect for those morning walks in the meadow.
Keep shining!
Boundless Online Church An outreach ministry of First Assembly Memphis www.boundlessonlinechurch.org www.famemphis.org
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