Asking for a Brother

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, May 30.

By Gina Wahlen

Every afternoon after school, eight-year-old Randy came home and felt so alone in Kenya.

Father and Mother were still at work, and the house seemed so, so empty.

He didn’t have any brothers or sisters, so he didn’t have anyone to talk to.

He didn’t have anyone to play with.

Time crawled by so, so slowly as he waited for his parents to come home.

One Friday, the loneliness became just too much. Randy couldn’t take it anymore.

When Mother came home, he asked if she could help.

“Could I have a little brother?” he said.

Mother didn’t say anything.

Randy sensed that she didn’t like the idea, but that didn’t discourage him. He still wanted a little brother.

“Mother,” he said. “What should I do if I want something?”

“You should pray,” Mother replied.

Randy went straight to his bedroom, closed the door, and prayed to the God of heaven.

“Please, God, help me get a brother so I won’t be alone any longer and I’ll have someone to play with,” he prayed.

Then Mother called him for his supper of rice, beans, and bananas.

Later, at family worship that evening, Father read from the Bible as Randy and Mother listened. When Father finished, everyone prayed. Randy asked God again for a little brother.

“Please, God, help me get a brother,” he said. “In the meantime, keep me company tomorrow so I won’t be lonely. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

When everyone opened their eyes, Father looked at Mother. Mother looked at Father. Mother smiled. Then Father looked at Randy.

“It’s good that you have learned how to pray,” he said. “Keep it up!”

The next day was Sabbath, and the family went to church. In Sabbath School, Randy prayed again for a little brother. He didn’t tell the Sabbath School teacher. He didn’t tell any of the other boys and girls. He just closed his eyes during the Sabbath School class and asked God to give him a little brother.

After that, Randy prayed for a brother every day. He prayed and prayed and prayed. He believed that God would answer his prayers. He was sure that God was doing something about it.

Sure enough, God was doing something about it. About a year passed, and Mother gave birth to a baby boy. Randy finally had a little brother! His name was Ryan.

Randy was so happy! He was no longer alone. Now he had a brother to talk to, He had a little brother to play with.

The two boys quickly became close friends. They loved to play together. Randy took little Ryan’s rattle and shook it in front of his face. Clack! Clack! Clatter! Clatter! went the rattle.

Ryan watched with big eyes, and he smiled and smiled and smiled.

Jesus says in the Bible, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7, NKJV). Randy knows that Jesus’ words are true.

“I learned that when you ask for something, God will answer,” he said.

One of the mission projects for this quarter is a school in Kenya where children can learn about the God of heaven who answers prayers. The school is called Merisho Advent Community Nursery School and is located not far from Randy’s home. Thank you for giving generously to this important project.