What to do when there’s “nothing to do”?

Well, read!

Or do something for someone else.

Or both!

The wonderful writers here at Christian Children’s Authors are geared up for a great summer, including a variety of posts about summer service . . . lots of ideas for getting children and families involved in serving others in Jesus’ name.

And to underscore the lessons and benefits of serving, here’s an inexpensive little book from Standard Publishing to add to your family’s library.

In God’s Boredom Buster Plan, Logan’s up early and ready for fun, but his best friend in the neighborhood is away on vacation. Logan watches TV, plays video games, makes play dough dinosaurs and a castle, rides his bike, skateboards, and jumps in his moon shoes. By lunchtime, Logan is b-o-r-e-d.

That’s when Mom introduces Logan to God’s boredom buster plan:

“If you want to not be bored, just be a servant of the Lord.”

Logan doesn’t get it. Not at first.

But then he helps Mom frost some cupcakes and deliver them to Mrs. Jennings, a neighbor with a broken arm. While they are visiting, Logan discovers that Mrs. Jennings hasn’t been able to wash her dishes.

So Logan volunteers to do the job. He washes every dish until it sparkles, and Mom dries.

It’s fall, and Mrs. Jennings’ yard is covered with leaves.

So Logan rakes the leaves into big piles, and Mom stuffs the leaves into bags.

Mrs. Jennings has some letters that need to be mailed, so Logan takes the letters to the mailbox on the corner. Then he walks Mrs. Jennings’ dog, Shep.

When it’s time to go home, Logan realizes that while he was serving Mrs. Jennings, he had fun and he wasn’t bored!

“If you want to not be bored, just be a servant of the Lord.”

Back at home, Logan sees old Mr. Winter struggling to get his heavy trash container out to the curb and runs to help him.

Logan’s sure he’s never going to be bored again!

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.–Matthew 25:40

God’s Boredom Buster Plan is part of the Happy Day Books series from Standard Publishing.
Written by Diane Stortz and illustrated by Phyllis Harris. Paperback, 16 pages, $2.49.

DIANE