Some of the disciples had been fishing all night long, but they had not caught one single fish!  Night time is the best time to fish when you are a professional fisherman on the Sea of Galilee!  But not THIS night!  Then they saw Jesus on the shore.  Jesus told them to try the other side of the boat and lo and behold, they caught so many fish they could hardly count them all!  Then Jesus prepared a breakfast for them. 

Now, all this happened AFTER Jesus died on the cross and after that came alive, the resurrection but BEFORE the time when he went into heaven to be with God his Father, where he is now, so the disciples were so amazed to even SEE Jesus again.  

Jesus asked Peter, one of the disciples “Do you love me?’  And Peter said “YES!”  It was odd, because Jesus asked him this question THREE times and each time Peter said “YES!” and after each time Jesus said “Feed my sheep!”

Elizabeth is in the kitchen with her mommy, Mrs. Mawakasunga and with her mommy’s sister, Aunt Gertrude.  Mrs. Mawakasunga is fixing their breakfast.  Maybe you remember what happens every year about this time:  Elizabeth’s mommy and daddy go to Tanzania where her daddy’s family lives.  Elizabeth’s daddy is a civil engineer and he does a lot of work in Tanzania in Africa to help improve the water supply in the village where Elizabeth’s cousin Martin lives. 

So as usual, Aunt Gertrude will be staying with Elizabeth for the next five weeks.

Elizabeth’s mother loves her very, very much.  And Elizabeth’s mother loves Aunt Gertrude very, very much.  They are busy with all the preparations for their big trip this week.  Mrs. Mawakasunga made a long list of all the things she wanted Aunt Gertrude to do with Elizabeth while they are away.  Elizabeth’s mother always worries when she leaves to go so far away.  She wants to be sure that Elizabeth is well cared for.

“Do you love me?” Mrs. Mawakasunga asked her sister.  Aunt Gertrude answered “YES!”  Then Elizabeth’s mommy said “Please take good care of my daughter.”  And then she added:

It was odd, because Mrs. Mawakasunga asked her sister this THREE times and each time Aunt Gertrude answered “YES!” and each time Mrs. Mawakasunga said “Please take good care of my daughter, and make sure she is buckled up in the back seat of the car, and make sure she wears her bike helmet, etc. etc.”

I think that Jesus loves us just as much, probably even more, than Mrs. Mawakasunga loves her daughter.  She will do everything possible to keep Elizabeth safe.

When Jesus talked to Peter, Jesus knew that he would soon be leaving earth to ascend into heaven.  He wanted to be sure that Peter would take good care of God’s people. 

Now it is OUR turn to take good care of God’s people.  The grownups here have heard God ask them, probably more than THREE times, to take good care of each other and each of you.  Because we love God, and because we love you, we most certainly will take good care of you, and make sure you are buckled up in the back seat of the car, and that you wear your bike helmet, and that you go to church, and that you do your homework, etc. etc. etc.!                           

THE END

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