Story Street

In first grade Sandy was the shortest girl in her class. She had red hair and
freckles. People made fun of her and made her upset. She wasn’t mean to other kids—she tried hard to be friendly. But she had a big problem that made it tough for people to like her.

Sandy had trouble controlling herself. She talked way too much, and she couldn’t sit still. One time she turned her desk over just by rocking it back and forth. All the kids laughed out loud but the teacher didn’t; she just shook her head sadly at Sandy.

Then there was the time the teacher was out of the classroom and Sandy turned her desk upside down and made a slide out of it. When the teacher came back to the room she took Sandy to the principal’s office. They called her Mom to come and get her. Sandy tried hard to be good and sit still but it didn’t work. She had too much energy.

Sandy wasn’t dumb. In face she finished her schoolwork before everyone else and made 100s on her tests. But all that energy and creativity got her into trouble. Her Mom cried a lot. Her Dad tried to make her be still. Even though they loved her very much that didn’t solve her problem.

It was a good thing Sandy had a big God to help her! Sandy believed in Jesus as her Savior and she knew God loved her. She heard it from her Mom and Dad all the time, and even at church she would hear of how God loved her so much. She was thankful for that because she wondered how anyone could love someone who was always in trouble. Sandy loved God so much but people just thought she was bad because she was so noisy and hyperactive.

Sandy learned that God answers prayer. So she began to ask God to help her be still and not talk so much. She would quote the verse, “Be still and know that I am God,” over and over.

Her Dad had built her a giant swing set. He made it so she couldn’t flip it over from swinging too high. She went there to use up her energy. And she went there to pray and sing because she knew God was watching her and listening to her. “Help me God, please,” she prayed. “You made me, and you can help me!”

In second grade Sandy moved to a new city and a new school. She was determined to sit still and not talk. She decided to keep very busy in school. Wanting to please her new teacher she took her brand new math workbook home and finished it in one weekend. It was supposed to have lasted for the whole year. She got in major trouble for that. It seemed trouble was everywhere for her even in doing good. Her energy was too much for everyone. She continued to ask God for help.




Sandy kept praying and soon the Holy Spirit began to work in her life. She could tell he was changing her. She could sit still and stay quiet longer. God was helping her have self-control.

At Christmas when school was almost out for the holidays the teacher asked Sandy to take home the class parakeet. She couldn’t believe it. The teacher said, “You have been so good the last few weeks!” Sandy knew it was God helping her. Self-control was becoming part of her life. God was real to her and she began to pray even more.

God had given Sandy all her energy. As Sandy grew up she found she could use it to do lots of things-to sing, play piano and other instruments and of course talk. She still talks too much, but she found out God had a plan for using that talent too. God took Sandy’s greatest weakness-talking too much—and made it her greatest strength. Today she talks to kids about Jesus wherever she is. She may be teaching piano or voice, but she always talks about Jesus her Savior and how he can help you in life. She talks to anyone who will listen about her favorite person Jesus and the God who is real to her.

She still has too much energy but God helps her daily to use it for him. She starts every morning out asking God to help her use her life and words to honor Him.

He is a Big God who made her just right and now as she teaches kids all over she understands those who cannot sit still or be quiet.

God sees your heart and knows if you love Him! Remember, God answers the prayers of His children. Pray and believe God will help you. He’ll be there for you the same way He is for Sandy!