Page 15 of Wish You Faith

“How about I start and we go clockwise?” Rosie suggested.

“Start with you, Miss Rosie!”

Miss Rosie.

Evan wasn’t sure why he was happy to hear that she wasn’t Mrs. Rosie, even though in the south, it was common for women to be addressed as Miss, even if they were married. That much, he knew.

“December is here, and it’s only three and a half weeks to Christmas.” Rosie opened her Bible. “Starting today, we’ll be reading various Bible stories about Jesus. Do you have your Bible ready?”

Everyone said, “Yes!”

Bad news. Evan had left his Bible in his rental apartment. He pulled out his phone to look for the Bible app. More bad news. His phone was out of battery.

“Please open your Bible and turn to Luke 2:25-35. As soon as you get there, raise your hand.” Very quickly, a number of kids had won the Bible sword drill.

“Today we’re reading the story of Simeon, who’s been waiting for a long time for Jesus the Messiah.” Rosie looked around the room. “But first, let me ask you this. Do you want me to read the passage or do you want to invite Mr. Evan to read it for us?”

Most of the kids said, “Mr. Evan!”

That would have made Evan feel included and at home right away. However, this morning, he didn’t have a Bible with him—and he was in church, no less. Well, he’d been halfway to church in his car before he realized that he’d left his Bible at home. He didn’t go back because he thought he’d just read it on his phone.

Of course, he had gone to bed right away after the masked ball last night, so he hadn’t charged his phone.

Now he felt embarrassed, as though a spotlight was shining on him on stage.

He didn’t think Rosie was that mean to pick on him, but he had only known her for two days.

Without looking at him, Rosie handed her Bible to the kid next to her. “Please pass it on all the way down to Mr. Evan over there so that he can read my Bible.”

He was only four kids away from her.

When her Bible arrived at Evan, he realized that it was her personal Bible. She had underlined verses, and made tiny notes in the margins. Her handwriting was neat and tidy.

Evan looked up and saw that Rosie was holding another Bible. Where did she get that Bible? It looked like a hardcover pew Bible.

“Everyone in Luke 2?” Rosie asked. When she heard the unanimous answer, she called another kid. “Celina, would you like to pray for us to open our Bible reading time?”

“Yes, ma’am.” And she did. It was a very short prayer, asking God to teach them something new.

Evan felt a sting in his eyes. He wanted to learn something new too.

Everyone was quiet as he read Luke 2:25-35 to the Sunday school class, which included a prayer by Simeon about having seen the salvation of the Lord.

For my eyes have seen Your salvation

Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel.

After Evan finished reading, Rosie asked questions about what they just read. She was holding a workbook of some sort, but then Evan realized that it was an age-appropriate leader’s guide to the Bible study.

“How did Simeon know which child in the temple was Jesus?” Rosie asked.

The kids said all kinds of answers. Rosie didn’t criticize anyone. She let them speak and even laughed along with some of the answers.

“You can find the answer in verses 25 to 28. See if you can spot it.” Rosie waited.

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