the two rafts

Dear Boys and Girls,

Billy and Sam two boys who lived beside the sea. You can imagine that they find all kinds of interesting things to do. One day, as they were playing on the shore, Sam said to Billy, “Let's each build a float out of whatever we can find on the beach.” So off they went, back and forward, bringing all sorts of things – tin cans, bits of wood – pieces of oiled rope – all kinds of things you find scattered on beaches. At last they got it all sorted out into two heaps and each set-to and built a raft.

My, how proud they were of those rafts! They got a loan of two long pieces of rope, and tied one on each of the rafts, and began to have great fun floating them on the bobbing waves.

All too soon, it was lunch time, and they had to go home. “We must make our rafts secure,” said Billy, “so that we won't lose them.” On saying this, he looked around for a safe place to put his raft. He noticed that on some rocks a little distance away there were a few iron hooks embedded on the rocks, just ideal for tying up the rafts. So off he went and clambered over the rocks, hauling his raft with him. At last, he got it well and truly tied up. When he got back to Sam he noticed that Sam had taken a bit of stick and had pushed it deep into the sand, and tied his raft to it. “Don't be silly, Sam,” said Billy, “the tide will come in and take it away.” “Well, I'll risk that,” said Sam. “I can't be bothered going over those rocks.” So, off they went for their lunch.

When they returned, how sad Sam was, for there, floating off in the distance, was his raft. The tide had of course, come in, and the sand was not solid enough to hold the stick in place and so, this was the result. “You should have taken the effort to secure it like mine on a solid foundation,” said Billy.

I am sure you would all agree, boys and girls, with Billy. And, you know, there's a similar story in the Bible, at the end of chapter seven of Matthew's gospel. I'll tell you what to do. Read it over and see if you think it's like the story of Billy and Sam. In my next letter I will tell you how I think it's like the story.

Here is a verse from the Bible that will help you to start thinking: - “For other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1st Corinthians chapter 3 verse 11)