What a delightful way to help your children understand Scripture as one continuous story of God's incredible love.
It is one of the best tools I've seen to lead a child to a sound understanding and acceptance of Jesus Christ.
This book is a rare fictional treasure for children and adults.
Tallahassee Area Church News,
September 1997
My heart was profoundly changed reading this book … Aside from revealing God's overall redemption story and the warm nature of Jesus, Jonathan's Journey carries a healing anointing for the brokenhearted.
This book needs to be available to the wounded in spirit! It belongs in every home.
I will always be grateful for the eternal impact you have made in my life through Jonathan's Journey.
Brenda, Florida
Exceptional! Truly a gifted writer. She grabbed my attention from beginning to end. The way she wove her story using imagery, is phenomenal. You can't wait to see what Jonathan is going to experience next. The story draws you, as you discover a great love. A story both young and old will treasure!
A reader from Guam
"Jonathan's Journey is a great read-to-your-kids book. The author based it on a profoundly handicapped boy she knows. In the book, he is visited one night by Jesus who takes him through the story of redemption. The last few chapters are real tear-jerkers, but in a good way. I was crying so hard when I read it to my kids that, well, I couldn't read."
found on AOL
in a homeschooling forum about favorite books
"I have sincerely enjoyed it, every moment of it; actually, it's brought tears of joy to the page more times than I can count. It's been such an encouragement and blessing. . . . I feel like I can truly relate to Jonathan."
Cammie, age 17
Cancer Survivor
Dallas, TX
My children and I absolutely love Jonathan's Journey! Even the three year old enjoys sitting (yes, sitting still!) and listening. What a great "snuggle" book!
Camy,
home schooling mom
"The book is the very best I've ever read! I've sold many copies and have given several to friends and relatives. All have returned and thanked me over and over for the book. What incredible insight! Christians and non-Christians alike should read this book. It touches the heart and soul of every reader, young and old alike!"
Beverly, Christian Bookseller; Georgia
Chapter
One:
A Visitor in the Night
God made Jonathan different.
Even before he was born, he was not like other children. "Something is wrong this time," the doctor told his parents sadly, shaking his head. "We heard twins before, but now I can only find one heartbeat."
And the doctor was right. When Jonathan was born, his twin brother had already died. And although Jonathan did live, he was very different from his four brothers and sisters.
His head was very small, and his muscles were stiff and uncontrollable. As he grew, he did not learn to talk, or to crawl, or to feed himself. He could not sit up, even with help, because his back was stiff and would arch backwards on its own. Even his hands were constantly clenched and useless, and he could not grasp things like other babies.
And as time went on, his family realized that he was very nearly blind. He could only see them — and then not clearly — when they leaned in very close to his face.
So his mother and father, sisters and brothers fed him, carried him, talked to him, and sang to him, and did for him all the things he could not do for himself.
And they loved him fiercely. Through all the trials and difficulties, they thanked God for their special little boy, and for his brother who would be waiting to meet them someday in heaven.
Although Jonathan knew he was different, he did not understand why. Most of the time, it did not matter — his family loved him, and he was happy. But sometimes he wondered.
He loved to listen to his sisters, Kimberly and Jill, talk and giggle together. He always smiled and laughed at the sounds of their cheerful voices, especially when they spoke to him in their loving way. "Hey, Jonathan," they would say. "Come on, Jonathan, smile for us — can you smile for us? Just look at that big smile!" But he could not understand what they were saying. And although he wanted to answer them, he did not know how to make the words.
He loved to play with his brothers, Matthew and Mark. But they ran around the house and yard on their legs, and used their hands to hold and throw things.
How do they do it? he wondered. Why can’t I?
Almost every day, Kimberly would carry him to the piano and hold him in her lap while she practiced — sometimes for hours at a time. Jonathan loved the music and the attention, and he would sit there with her for as long as his stiff, uncooperative body would allow, listening enraptured, and making small, happy sounds as if begging her to play on and on and on.
But best of all was when the entire family would stand together and sing. His mother or Kim would sit at the piano, his father would play his guitar, and sometimes one of his brothers would even join in on the drums. And one of them would always hold him — right there in the middle of it all — as they lifted their voices together, each singing a different part, until the harmonies blended together into that wonderful sound that wrapped Jonathan in joyous delight and carried him away to secret, magical places. How he wished he could sing with them!
He loved to be held — the feel of his father’s arms around him, his mother’s familiar softness as she cradled him, his grandma’s fond caress on his cheek — these were the best feelings in the world.
Next to their music, he loved their voices best, gently calling his name, speaking to him in that quiet tone that he knew was just for him. And he especially loved it when they said to him — over and over — the four words that he knew, the only four words that he was sure he understood:
"Jonathan, I love you — I love you, Jonathan . . . I love you!"
* * *
One night, Jonathan did not feel well. He could not go to sleep, and he cried when his mother set him down. So she took him in her arms for a while, held him and talked to him, walked with him, and murmured quiet words of comfort.
But by now he was almost six years old, and too heavy for her to carry for very long. So at last, she sank into an old overstuffed recliner, laid his head against her chest, and as they rocked together, began to sing softly.
Baby’s
boat’s a silver moon, sailing through the sky —
Sailing o’er the seas of sleep while the stars go by;
Sail, Baby, sail — out among the seas —
Only don’t forget to sail . . . back again to me.
It felt good to snuggle up against her. She sang on, her low voice and the soothing familiar melodies finally lulling him to sleep.
Jesus loves
me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong —
They are weak, but He is strong. . . .
Finally, Jonathan slept. His mother did not want to wake him by moving, so before long, she slept, too.
It was several hours later when Jonathan suddenly woke up. Someone had called his name. He opened his eyes and listened.
It had not been his mother’s voice — she was asleep, and the house was quiet. It was very late, and his bedroom window was etched with darkness.
But the room was flooded with light.
"Jonathan," he heard again.
He turned toward the voice curiously. He wished whoever it was would move nearer, much nearer, so he might see who it was. But instead, a hand reached out and touched his eyes, once, very softly. Jonathan blinked in surprise, and when he opened his eyes again, he could see.
Not like before — only from up close, then so . . . so dimly. No, now he could see! He could see everything!
A man was leaning over him. And the soft glow that soothed the darkness came from his face.
Jonathan could see
him! Amazed, his eyes devoured
every detail. The man’s bearded face was quiet and beautiful. His eyes
were kind and full of laughter, and he gazed at Jonathan with a smile so
full of love that the boy immediately wanted to reach out to him.
But he could not.
Jonathan could not remember ever having seen him before, or having heard his voice. But somehow, he was not a stranger.
Who are you? Jonathan wanted to ask. But he did not know the words, or how to speak them.
The man began to stroke Jonathan’s cheek, and his touch was even softer and kinder than Mommy’s. His face was not familiar, but it was perfect in every way — except that he had long, deep scars all over his forehead.
He loves me, Jonathan knew.
More than Kimberly and Matthew? he wondered.
Yes.
More than Jill and Mark?
Yes, more than Jill and Mark.
But not more than Daddy and Mommy. No one could love him more than Daddy and Mommy.
But as he stared at that beautiful, scarred face, he knew somehow, No one in the whole world loves me more than you do.
But who are you?
The man seemed to know how desperately Jonathan longed to speak to him. He stretched out his hand and gently traced the outline of Jonathan’s mouth. Then he spoke. "Talk to me, Jonathan," he said softly.
Instantly, the words came to Jonathan’s tongue. "Who are you?" he asked, listening in wonder to the sound of his own voice.
"My name is Jesus," the man replied simply. "I made you."
"Jesus?" Jonathan said. "I’ve heard that name before. Mommy sings about you all the time." He frowned in thought. "But how does she know you? I’ve never seen you here before."
"Your mommy has known me for many years," the man replied. "We speak together often. But tonight, I came to see you."
"Why?"
"Because I have many things to tell you," he smiled. "Get up and come with me."
Jonathan’s face clouded with worry. "But I can’t. Mommy has to carry me everywhere I go, and she’s asleep."
The man laughed, then gently lifted Jonathan out of his mother’s arms and set him on his own feet. Jonathan looked about him in confusion, then suddenly realized that he was standing. His feet felt strange, but strong and good, and the world looked wonderfully different from this angle.
The man stepped back and held out his hand to Jonathan. "Walk to me," he said.
Jonathan did. He was surprised at how simple it was. He took the man’s hand and looked up at him with growing wonder.
"Let’s go for a walk," Jesus suggested.
Jonathan hesitated. "But what about Mommy?" he asked.
Jesus looked at Jonathan’s mother. She had not awakened at their voices or when Jesus had taken Jonathan from her arms. Her face showed exhaustion, even in sleep, and was creased with lines of concern and fatigue. He let go of Jonathan and took her hand in his. Kissing her forehead softly, he whispered to her, "Don’t be troubled, Mary — all is well."
Even before he had finished speaking, Jonathan saw her tense face relax. Then she curled up comfortably in the chair and fell far beyond dreams into that deepest kind of sleep.
"Now we can go," Jesus said, taking Jonathan’s hand again. "Your mother has worked hard. We’ll let her rest."
"Okay," said Jonathan. Together, they walked hand in hand to the front door. Both of them seemed to understand that Mary might wake up if they unlocked and opened the door. So instead, they walked through it and into the night.
To read the rest of the story, email the author to order your own autographed copy!
Chapter
2:
Made for Himself
Jesus shows Jonathan the glories of the night sky, and tells him of the Creation of the earth and of man.
Chapter
3:
Separated!
As Jonathan runs for the first time in his life and plays on a sandy beach by the sea, Jesus tells him the story of the fall in the garden.
Chapter
4:
Grace on the Sea of Judgment
Jesus takes Jonathan on a walk across the ocean's surface where He tells him the story of Noah and the flood.
Chapter
5:
God's Chosen People
While Jonathan climbs a rainbow and sails in a boat made of the crescent moon, he listens to Jesus tell how God chose the people of Israel to be His own.
Chapter
6:
A Father's Greatest Love
Jonathan sings for the first time in his life, then hears the story of how God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Chapter
7:
Death Passes Over
Jesus tells Jonathan how God spared the Israelites' first born children from the last plague against Egypt, then led them to freedom across the Red Sea.
Chapter
8:
Mountains of Thunder
and a Healing Serpent
Jesus takes Jonathan on a horseback ride across the desert to Mt. Sinai, where He tells Jonathan of God's sadness at His people's continual disobedience.
Chapter
9:
The Dead Hill With Empty Eyes
Jonathan travels through time to witness the crucifixion of Jesus.
Chapter
10:
The Savior
Chapter
11:
A Promise for Jonathan
To find out what happens in the last chapters, email the author to order your own autographed copy!
