Filipe and Phyl were playing in front of the fire. They were rolling over and over pretending to bite each other's tails. It was a lovely game of 'tumble' and their Mummy and Daddy - Felix and Fay Fox - laughed as they watched them. Mummy was sitting knitting, Daddy was reading his paper, and if you could have peeped through their window you would have seen how lovely and cosy their home looked. They were very happy there, and Mummy was always busy keeping their home clean and tidy.
Daddy loved to explore when he wasn't at work, and he often went for long walks by the sea, or through the woods where they lived.
'Where have you been today, Daddy?' Phyl would ask when he came home.
'Have you been exploring again?' Filipe would add.
'Yes, I've been right through the woods, across the fields, and guess who I met? Daddy would ask them.
The children's big brown eyes would sparkle with laughter.
'Who would it be this time?' they wondered, as Daddy often teased them by pretending to meet lots of strange and interesting people - people from their story books, and others whom he had just invented himself. So there was always a lot of laughing and teasing every night when Daddy came home.
One day, however, Daddy was really excited. 'Guess who I saw today?' he called as he came through the door.
'Dinner first' called Mummy when she saw Phyl and Filipe tumbling over Daddy, and playing their guessing game.
It seemed to Phyl and Filipe that dinner took an extra long time to eat that night, and the moment the dinner dishes were cleared away Phyl asked 'Have you met this person before, Daddy?'
'No, but I knew of Him. I had heard such a lot about the things He did and said' Daddy answered.
'Is he from our story books?' asked Filipe.
'No. Not from your story books' was Daddy's answer.
'Is he a "made-up" man' Phyl next asked.
No, He is very real' Daddy said.
The children thought and thought. In the end - 'We give in' they said. 'Tell us please.'
So as the children sat on the rug in front of the fire, and Mummy and Daddy were in their easy chairs, Daddy began. 'Today I decided to walk near the sea for a change, and as I was looking through the hedge to see what was going on, I saw a group of people coming towards me talking very seriously.'
'Did you hear what they were saying?' interrupted Phyl.
'Yes' he replied. 'I recognised who it was, so I trotted along behind the hedge to listen, as everything this man says is worth listening to.'
Mummy laughed. 'I've guessed who it is' she said. 'I think it could only be Jesus!'
'Yes, you are right' Daddy agreed, a big smile on his face. He paused a moment, then said 'And He talked about us!'
They all opened their eyes wide with surprise - 'US?' they said together - 'US?'
Daddy chuckled. 'Yes, I clearly heard Him.'
'What did He say. What did He say?' the twins asked excitedly.
'Well I heard someone say to Jesus that he would follow Jesus no matter where He went. Then Jesus said - "Remember, I have no home, no place to lay my head to sleep."
‘Oh, how sad' said Phyl. Mummy agreed.
Then Daddy continued. 'And this was when Jesus told them about us. He said "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have their nests, but I have no home here on earth."
'He knew we have a lovely home?' Filipe asked in amazement.
'Why don't we ask Him to live with us?' Phyl suggested eagerly.
Mummy looked tenderly at her twins. 'That is a lovely idea' she said. 'But from what I have heard, Jesus has very special work to do. He must tell people about his Heavenly Home, and God's love for them.'
Daddy nodded. 'Mummy is right, but I'm sure Jesus knows you care about Him, and if everyone asks Him to come and live in their homes and hearts, then He wont feel lonely ever again - will He?'
Elizabeth Aynsley ©

Luke 9. vs. 57,58.