Simon was ten years old and he was a boy scout.
He hadn't been a scout very long, and he was thrilled with his new uniform.
He looked great in it too.
It was khaki coloured. He had long socks and a scout hat.
Simon was going on his first scout camp.
What a fuss we all made of this!
He showed off his camping stuff, a sleeping bag and a ground sheet in a special bag.
We talked about the camp for a week before.
The family was excited too.

The big day came, and Simon went proudly off with his troop and scout master.
He wasn't going far.
We lived near a beautiful lake, and its bush land came right up to our property.
The scouts had permission to camp in the bush.
It was lovely, with whole gullies of flowers called hydrangeas.
Puffy Billy came past the bush surrounds.
He was a cute steam train, with a whistle which went, "Woo! Woo!"
A real train, not just a kids train.

The family felt a bit lonely for Simon at dinner time.
And we were sorry for him when it started to rain.
The rain got heavier as the night got darker!
There was a bit of thunder and lightening.
We wondered if the scout master might bring the boys home.
I was in bed when I heard a knock at the back door.
I opened it, and there was a very wet, very muddy Simon.
Well, he couldn't get inside quick enough!
The rain had poured down on his little tent.
His blow-up camp bed had been pretty uncomfortable.
The thunder was terrible!
The other boy in his very small tent kept wriggling around and complaining.
So, when every one went to sleep and there was a break in the weather,
Simon had run away!

I took him straight to a hot shower and got him warm.
Then he went to his own room.
He was smiling from ear-to-ear as he slipped between the white sheets of his own bed.
He pulled up the cosy blanket and murmured,
"my pillow! my bed! my radio! my bed light!"
Next day the scout master said we should have taken "that boy" straight back again.
Maybe he was right.
I don't know what you would have done in my place.
But I wasn't too keen to return him in the middle of the night, in the wet.

Simon was so glad just to be home.
Home is a wonderful thing.
Your home might be a house, a flat, an apartment, or a caravan or trailer home.
It doesn't matter what a home is made of, or how big it is.
What is important is that you belong there, and it is your home.
Jesus is our heart's home.
He is our comfort in the storm and the dark night of just being alive.
We can always be at home in Him.
Where does the Bible say that Jesus is our heart's home?
I will write out two of the verses:

You might have been in many "storms" and deep into the "dark" of life already!
Maybe there have been things you have been involved in that you wouldn't tell your family about, ever. Perhaps you think there is no way to get "clean" and "comfortable" inside - ever again!
That is not true, for Jesus can wash away any wrong doings, any sins. He will forgive you, when you are truly sorry and ready to let Him change you.
When He forgives you and cleans you up, what a comfort it is inside, and the peace is bliss! Let Him be your heart's home, you belong with the Lord, you find your real place of belonging in Him.

We should not love the evils things of this world.
Read 1 John 2:15-17.

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