'Hello! Aunty June' called a shoal of little fishes as they came out of school. Everyone loved Aunty June who was called 'June' because she was born in the month of June.
'When are you going to tell us another story?' Jonny asked.
'Perhaps tomorrow' Aunty June answered. 'I'm busy looking after the new babies today, but I should be free tomorrow evening if you would like to come.'
'Great!' 'Super!' 'Brilliant!' shouted the little fishes.
'We'll be at your house straight after tea' said Jonny.
'I'm sure you will' laughed Aunty, and she hurried away to the new babies.
'Let's all meet by the big rock tomorrow' suggested Andy.
'Good idea' they all agreed, then they said 'Good-bye' to each other and swam home for their tea.
The next day they could hardly wait for school to be over, and when at last they heard the bell ringing to say it was time to go home, they dashed to the door so quickly that they got all tangled up.
'One at a time' called teacher. 'What is the matter with you all today?'
'We are going to Aunty June's house for a story' they said as they struggled to get out of the tangle.
'Oh!' smiled their teacher. She understood, as everyone knew of Aunty June's wonderful stories. 'Tell me about it tomorrow' she called, but she didn't think they heard as all she could see were lots of little tails wiggling at great speed as the children rapidly disappeared.
When they reached home they ate their teas as quickly as they could, and then swam swiftly back to meet each other at the big rock.
'Are we all here?' asked Andy. They counted and no-one was missing, so, 'Off we go' shouted Jonny, and they sped off to Aunty's house.
'Hello, you are early' said Aunty as they arrived breathless at the little front door. 'Have you had your tea?' she asked them.
'Yes, we are all ready for the story' they told her.
'Make yourselves comfortable then whilst I get your cakes ready for later.'
The children smiled happily at each other. Aunty June was as good a cook as she was a storyteller, so they knew they were going to enjoy something really yummy!
'Well I wonder what the story should be tonight' said Aunty thinking aloud as she sat down in the easy chair. She thought for a moment or two then smiled round at them all - 'I know' she said, 'I'll tell you about a miracle I saw - a wonderful miracle.'
The children shuffled a little to get more comfortable, then ten pairs of eyes looked intently at Aunty.
'It happened one night - well actually it was very early in the morning' she began. 'I had been looking after my friend all night who was ill, and I was on my way home and having quite a struggle trying to swim against the waves and the wind. In the end I just gave up.'
The children laughed. 'It's good fun going up the waves and sliding down the other side, isn't it?' said Jenny.
'It was when I was younger' Aunty smiled. 'But on that particular night all I wanted was to get home and rest.'
'When did the miracle happen?' asked Sophie.
'I'm coming to that now' Aunty June said. 'When I was on top of the waves I had been watching a boat and I noticed that they, too, were struggling and struggling to row against the wind and the waves. And then it happened - what a fright I got!' and Aunty paused and silently stared into space. The children kept very quiet, then 'Yes, quite a fright' Aunty repeated.
'Why?'
'What happened?'
'What did you see?'
The questions came tumbling out.
Aunty chuckled. 'I thought I saw a ghost' she said. 'But of course it wasn't. It was Jesus!'
The children knew all about Jesus, but they couldn't understand why seeing Jesus had frightened their Aunty.
'Was He in the boat?' asked Sophie.
'No' smiled Aunty.
'On the shore?' asked Jenny.
'No' Aunty chuckled again.
Silence! The children looked at each other absolutely puzzled.
'He was right beside me' Aunty explained.
'Swimming?' asked Sarah in astonishment.
'No, He was walking on the water' Aunty said very slowly - 'Actually walking on the water.'
Ten little fishy mouths fell open in amazement as they gazed at Aunty June.
'You aren't the only ones to feel astonished' she laughed. His disciples were terrified, some of them screamed as they thought they were seeing a ghost too!'
'What did Jesus do?' asked Mary.
'I heard Him call out "Don't be afraid, it's all right, it's Jesus."
Little whispers of 'He walked on the water' could be heard from the children as they saw it happening in their imagination.
'But the story isn't finished yet' said Aunty June after a moment or two.
'Something else happened?' asked Mark, his eyes as big as saucers!
'Oh, yes' chuckled Aunty June. Peter shouted 'Sir, if it is really you, tell me to come over to you. Let me walk on the water too'.
The children giggled. They knew Peter well and could just imagine him asking such a question.
'What happened?'
'Did Peter go to Jesus?' Ben asked.
Again Aunty June chuckled. 'Yes' she said. 'Peter climbed over the side of the boat and started to walk on the water to Jesus.'
A gasp came from the children - 'He really did walk on the water?' they asked.
'For a while' said Aunty, 'But only for a while until he looked at the high waves and felt himself being pushed around by the wind and then he became very scared and began to sink'
'Oh dear' said quiet Mary. 'What did he do then?'
'He called to Jesus, of course, said Aunty. 'The only thing anyone can do when they are in trouble.’
The children nodded their heads seriously. Yes, they agreed with Aunty, it WAS the only thing to do.
'And Jesus helped Peter, didn't He?' said Mary.
'Of course He did' said Aunty as she smiled at little Mary.
'He reached out His hand and immediately Peter was able to walk on the water again. Then I heard Jesus say "Oh, Peter, where was your faith? Why did you doubt?" 'But I saw that Jesus was smiling. He wasn't cross with Peter.'
'What were the other disciples doing all this time?' asked Jonny.
'They were leaning over the boat in amazement, and hanging on to the sides because the storm was still raging' explained Aunty June.
'Yet Jesus and Peter were able to walk on the water amidst all the noise and wind and huge waves' remarked Andy shaking his head in astonishment.
'And as if that wasn't a big enough miracle' continued Aunty, 'When Jesus and Peter climbed back into the boat the storm stopped immediately - just like that! And I heard some of the disciples say "You really are the Son of God".
'Of course He is' said Jonny 'They should have known that long ago, they have seen plenty miracles' and he wagged his tail in annoyance at the disciples.
'Well, it seems it takes some people longer than others to realise that Jesus is God's Son' said Aunty gently.
'I think that is the best story you have ever told us, AuntyJune' said Sophie quickly.
'So do I' agreed all the others - Jonny included!
'What happened then?' Mary asked in her quiet little voice.
'Well, once the wind had ceased it was easy to row the boat, so they quickly reached the shore, and it wasn't long before Jesus was as busy as ever healing the sick and telling the people the Good News of how much God loves them' Aunty concluded.
'That's the best thing in the world, isn't it?' said Mary thoughtfully. 'To know that God loves us.'
'It certainly is' agreed Aunty June as she began to hand out her delicious home-made cakes.
Elizabeth Aynsley ©

Matthew 14 vs. 22 - 32