CHILDREN'S STORIES

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BUNI TALES

Volume 1:  Adventures of Soft Paws

Chapter 1 -- Close Call

by W.G. Blaisure

            Soft Paws lay quivering on the snow in the underbrush.  Big Ears was hidden under a bunch of grass close by.  The two Buni's (pronounced bunnies) hadn't stirred from their hiding place, and a good thing too!  Not more than sixty big hops away, Dred Fox was heading for his nightly hunt.  If they had moved, he would have been on their trail.

            B'Elder was right.  One did not rush out into the night.  First you must speak with the Son of the Highest in your heart and wait for His answer of peace, then you could start the night knowing He would be with you and keep you safe.

            "HEY!  WHAT ARE YOU TWO LAZYBONES DOING?  YOU GONNA SLEEP ALL NIGHT?"

            "Shhhhhhhh! Bruiser."  Soft Paws said.  "Dred Fox is nearby.  We just saw him!"

            "WHOSE AFRAID OF THAT OLD FOX?", boasted Bruiser.  "WHY, I CAN OUT RUN HIM ANY NIGHT."

            Just then Big Ears heard paws running close by.  He saw a flash of red and yelled, "THE FOX!", and pointed just behind them.  Soft Paws looked and saw that Dred Fox was just about to jump on Bruiser from behind.  Bruiser hadn't heard or seen him and was just standing there.

            With a quick thought-prayer, Soft Paws jumped over Bruiser.  Dred Fox was just landing and Soft Paws hit him right on his left ear!  "Thump", went one of his big foot paws on the fox's head.  "Thump! Thump!", he smacked the fox again, this time on his nose!

            "Thwak! Smack!", Big Ears hit the fox from the other side.  Dred Fox let out a howl and turned and ran.  This was too much for him.  An easy supper was one thing.  But two fighting Buni's was too much!

            Bruiser was still standing where he was when the attack began, but now his mouth was hanging open.  "Wow!  That was close!  Thanks guys.  You saved my life!  But you could have been killed!  Why did you do that?"

            Big Ears got right up in Bruiser's face, "You...you...you could have got us killed with that big mouth of yours!  I should....".

            "Big Ears, no!", shouted Soft Paws.  "He just didn't think it was dangerous.  The Lord, Son of the Highest helped us, so let it go."

            "I'm really sorry, guys.  That was a really dumb thing to do.  I should have been careful like B'Elder teaches us." said Bruiser.

            "Yes, you should", answered Soft Paws.  "Now would be a good time to thank the Highest for His protection.  Let's pray, OK?"

            The three Buni's softly thanked God and started toward the Meeting Place.

            "Boy, Soft Paws", said Bruiser, "You should change your name to Hard Paws.  You really hit that fox!"

            "No.  I just asked the Son of the Highest for help and He sure did help!  He gets the credit.  I'm still just Soft Paws and need His help all the time."

            "I sure learned that I need His help too." said Bruiser.  "Maybe He can help me with my mouth.  It sure gets me into lots of trouble."

            "If He can help me with my big ears, I'm sure He can help you with your mouth!" laughed Big Ears.

(Copyright July 29, 1999.  Warren G. Blaisure)

Chapter 2 -- Bruiser's Name

          "Wheee!  This is fun!" laughed the little Buni as he slid down the slide at the playground.

            Smack!  "Hey, watch where you're going!  That hurt!  You ran right into me!  I'll have a bruise for sure!"

            "I'm sorry, Greyspot.  I didn't mean to hit you.  I was just having fun."

            Greyspot rubbed his back where the little Buni had run into him. 

            "I know you didn't mean it, but it sure hurts.  Be more careful next time."

            "I will." the little Buni said as he hopped down from the slide and rushed back to the ladder to slide again.

            "That little guy needs a lesson in manners,"  Greyspot told his friend White Toes.  "He's going to really hurt some body if he doesn't slow down."

            White Toes nodded his head.  "What was his name any way?"

            "I don't know, but from the feel of where he hit me, it should be 'Bruiser'.  Look, there he goes again.  Watch out little guy!  You're going to hit that ...!"

            Thump!  Bang!  Crash! 

            "Ouch!  Ouch!  Ouch!  Ohhhh!  That hurt!"  cried a little girl Buni.  "I've got bruises all over me.  And look, you scratched me!  I'm bleeding!  Mommy!" she cried as she limped away.

            "Oh, Carrots!"  said the little Buni.  "Why are people always getting in my way?  Can't they see me coming?  Everybody moves so slow and its so much fun going fast!"  Quickly he ran to the swing to have more fun.  He had already forgotten running into the little girl Buni.

            Greyspot said, "This has gone far enough!  I'm going to find that little Buni's parents and warn them that people are getting hurt by their son!"  He hopped off looking right and left.  Soon he found them, looking for their fast moving little guy.

            "Sir, have you seen a little Buni rushing around the playground?  He runs as fast as he can, and is always running into things and people."

            "I sure have.  He ran into me!  Then he ran into a little girl Buni and made her cry!  I don't know what you named him, but I'd name him 'Bruiser' if he was my  son."

            "That's sure a good name for him." said his father.  "I've been bruised by him many times.  He just hurries without looking where he is going.  Then he doesn't seem to feel bad about the people he hurts.  We don't know what to do with him."

            "Let's go talk to him."  said Greyspot.  "May be we can slow him down a little if we all stick together on this."

            They found the little Buni riding on the spinwheel merry-go-round, bumping into other Buni's as he moved from rail to rail while it was spinning.

            "Young man, you come off that at once!" said his father.  The little Buni jumped off and landed right on White Toes foot!

            "Ouch!  My foot!" yelled White Toes.

            "That does it.  From now on your name is 'Bruiser' for sure!"  said the little Buni's Dad.  "Maybe each time you hear your new name, you'll think about how you are hurting others with your running and not watching where you are going.  Maybe it will help you to slow down."

            White Toes, Greyspot and the little Buni's parents all agreed, and from that day until now, he is called 'Bruiser'.

            Did he learn his lesson?  No.  He still runs into people and bruises them.  When most people see him coming, they just move out of his way.  Maybe he'll be an Olympic runner and win all kinds of medals -- if nobody gets in his way.

(Copyright August 4, 1999.  Warren G. Blaisure)

Chapter 3 -- Big Ears

          "Hey,   Big Ears!  How'd you get your name?"  asked Bruiser.  "My name doesn't make me feel too good.  How about yours?  Do you like it?"

            ""Not really," said Big Ears.  "At least I didn't like it until Soft Paws helped me see how it could be a good name.  I was always listening to people talk when it wasn't any of my business to know what they were saying, so they called me "Big Ears" and pushed me away.  I guess the name just stuck.  Of course my ears are pretty big any way."

            "OK!  I can see why they would call you Big Ears, but you said Soft Paws showed you how it could be a good name.  How could that be?" asked Bruiser.

            "Well, I think Soft Paws can tell you better than me.  Would you tell him, Soft Paws?" asked Big Ears.

            "Sure.  I'll be glad to." said Soft Paws.  "In Revelation 3:6 it says, 'He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'  Big Ears likes to listen so why not listen to the Spirit of God?  Then his ears will be used for good."

            "But how do you listen to the Spirit of God?  Isn't he in heaven or something?"  Bruiser asked.

            "Oh yes," said Soft Paws, "but he's here on B'earth too.  He's everywhere.  After all, he is God!"

            "But does God talk to little guys like us?  Aren't we too little for him to take time to talk to us?" asked Bruiser.

            "Oh no," Soft Paws answered, "In Matthew 19:16 it says 'But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Let the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.'  This means that all us young Buni's and children everywhere can come to Jesus anytime!"

            "WOW!  You mean I can talk to Jesus, the Son of the Highest, and he will talk with me?"

            "That's exactly what I mean, Bruiser.  And that's why Big Ears has such a good name.  When he stopped listening to things he shouldn't, and started listening to Jesus, he had some great things to tell other people."

            "Soft Paws, I really am happy that you told me that I could use my ears in a good way.  Jesus really does talk to me," said Big Ears.

            "Do you think he would talk to me?" asked Bruiser.  "I could sure use some good news.  Maybe he would even help me make my name good, though I don't know how he could."

            "Let's ask him right now, Bruiser.  And then look for a way to make your name good." said Soft Paws.

            The three Buni's looked up to heaven and asked Jesus to show them how to turn Bruiser's name to something good and thanked him for listening to them.

            "I've got it!" shouted Bruiser.  "I remember B'Elder preached about Jesus bruising Satan.  He said if we do the things Jesus wants us to and that will bruise the Devil.  He said that messes up Satan's plans.  So I'll be a devil bruiser.  I'll do Godly things and mess up the Devil's plans!"

            "That's right," Big Ears said.  "I remember the verse because with these big ears I couldn't miss it.  It was Romans 16:20: 'And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.' "

            "That's it, all right," said Soft Paws, "I'm sure the Spirit of God will help you do good, Bruiser, not just to mess up the Devil's plans, but to show others how to live for the Lord.  That's what he did for Big Ears and me."

            "You, Soft Paws?  Why I didn't think you ever did any thing wrong." said Bruiser.

            "Oh, yes I do!  And I sure needed Jesus' help."

            "Tell us about it, Soft Paws." the two Buni friends said.

            "Next story time," said Soft Paws.  "It's time for the meeting!  Let's go!"

(Copyright August 11, 1999.  Warren G. Blaisure)

Chapter 4 -- Soft Paws: The Change

          "Boy, that was a great meeting!  B'Elder sure can make the Bible interesting.  Right guys?" asked Big Ears.

            "Yeah, I sure learned a lot.  We've got lots of things to work on to be better Buni's.  I never knew there was so much good stuff in the Bible." said Soft Paws.

            "I thought you knew everything about the Bible.  You quote it all the time." Big Ears pointed out.

            "Oh no," said Soft Paws, "I'm just learning like you guys.  I haven't known Jesus that long.  Before I came to know him, I was quite a different person.  I wasn't very nice and, really, that's where my name came from."

            "Come on, Soft Paws," Bruiser said eagerly, "Tell us how you got your name.  I'll bet it was really neat because you're such a good guy."

            "No, Bruiser, I wasn't such a good guy.  You wouldn't have liked me back then.  You see, I got the name 'Soft Paws' because I was so sneaky.  I would sneak up on people and scare them and they couldn't hear me coming.  Sometimes I would slip up real close to listen to people talk and then go tell other people things they had said about them.  I was always stiring up trouble."

            "Wow!  I never would have thought you would be like that.  You're so careful to say only good things about people now and you never sneak up on us to scare us." said Big Ears.

            "No.  That's because Jesus changed my heart and I am a new Buni now.  Let me tell you how it happened." said Soft Paws.

            "I had been really bad all that week and Mom and Dad had been on my case, hard!  I deserved it, but I sure didn't like it.  First, I hid in my sister's closet and waited for her to come into her room.  When she did, I jumped out screaming and scared her almost to death.  I thought it was really funny and was laughing so hard I had to hold onto my belly.  She sure was scared.

            "When Mom heard her yelling at me, she came running.  When she heard what I had done, she grounded me for the rest of the week.  That wasn't so funny.

            "That made me mad, so I would sneak up to Sis's room and listen while she gossiped about other girls and guys.  Then I wrote notes telling those kids what she had said and dropped them on their desks at school.  Boy was she mad.  I got her into all kinds of trouble.

            "Then I snuck up behind Dad's chair after he fell asleep reading the newspaper and reached around and tied his shoe laces together.  When Mom called us for supper, he tried to get up and fell on the floor.  It looked so funny, I started laughing again.  Well, after he finished with me, I wasn't laughing anymore.

            "Dad called a family meeting and the whole family decided it was time to deal with me, so they gave me a new name.  The top choice was 'Sneaky Pete', but my Mom's brother, uncle Pete already had that one.  So Dad came up with "Old Soft Paws" after a story character he had read when he was a kid.  That's what my family and then everybody else started calling me.

            "It was 'here comes Old Soft Paws, watch out!'  Or, 'Be careful, Old Soft Paws might be listening!'  And on, and on, and on it went.  I sure got tired of it all.

            "Then it was meeting day and B'Elder was talking about 'Talebearers & Tricksters".  I know he made that sermon special for me.  I told Mom and Dad I was sure they had told B'Elder about me, but they said it sure wasn't them.

            "It really got to me when B'Elder read those verses from Proverbs.  I can still hear him now...

                        "Proverbs 11:13: A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.             And, The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Proverbs 18:8."

            "Boy, did he get my number.  I sure was a talebearer.  I just didn't know what my actions were doing to other people.  Man, was I guilty!

            "Then he read from another chapter...

                          " Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.   Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.   For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall." Proverbs 4:14-16.

            "That did it.  I knew I needed God's help.  When B'Elder finished speaking, he asked if anyone wanted to confess their wrong doing to God and ask for forgiveness to come to the front of the Meeting Hall and he would pray with them and God would meet their need. I went up and he prayed with me.  I asked Jesus to forgive me and come into my life and to help me not be 'Old Soft Paws' anymore.

            "I went home and was so quiet and didn't do any of those sneaky, mean things anymore. So my family just called me Soft Paws. They said it was because I was so quiet and soft and easy to get along with.

            "So you see, Bruiser, Big Ears, it wasn't me who was and is good, it is Jesus helping me to be good.  And he'll help you guys too.  All you have to do is ask him.  Would you like to do that now?"

            "I sure would," said Bruiser.

            "Me too," said Big Ears.

            The three Buni's bow their heads and pray.

(Copyright August 19, 1999.  Warren G. Blaisure)

 

Chapter 5 -- Greyspot, God, and Grayland

          Greyspot had been watching the three friends, Bruiser, Soft Paws and Big Ears.  When he saw them bow their heads to pray, he wondered what they were doing.  He had heard when people do this, they were talking to God, but who was this God? And how did he hear them when they were not speaking?  This was a great puzzle to Greyspot.

            Now Greyspot moved closer to Soft Paws as his two friends waved goodbye and walked away.

            "Soft Paws," said Greyspot, "What were you Buni's doing just a moment ago?"

            "Oh, We were praying and asking the Most High God to help us be better Buni's.  He will, you know."

            "How does God hear you if you don't speak.  Where is He, anyhow?  I sure didn't see Him?  How does He help you and why should He?  This is very puzzling."

            "Whoa!", exclaimed Soft Paws.  "You just asked five questions.  Let me answer them and solve your puzzle.

            "First, God hears our thoughts.  In Matthew 12:25 and Luke 6:8 it says Jesus, God's Son, knew their thoughts.  So if we speak out loud or think our thoughts to the Lord, He hears us and even speaks to our minds as well."

            "Wow!  That's scary!  You mean He knows what I'm thinking right now?" asked Greyspot.

            "He sure does." said Soft Paws.  "Look, here in Matthew 9:4, it says, 'And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Why do you think evil in your hearts?'  Then in Hebrews 4:12 it says, 'For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to separating soul and spirit, ...and knows the thoughts and plans of the heart.'  "

            "Where is God, anyhow?  If He knows my thoughts, I sure hope He isn't in a bad mood, or I'm in a heap of trouble!"

            "Don't worry, Greyspot, the Holy Spirit of God is everywhere at the same time.  Because He's a spirit, we can't see Him.  But, because Jesus paid the bill for our wrong doing, He won't punish you, He'll just help you."

            "Whew!  That sure is good news!  I was really worried there for a minute.  But why would Jesus pay the bill for the things I've done wrong?  I've sure done a lot of them!"

            "Greyspot, God chose to love us, not hate us.  I know it doesn't make sense, but He did.  The only thing He asks us to do is to be sorry we did the wrong, ask for forgiveness and then let Him come into our heart and help us do the right things.  If we will, He comes right in and we are changed.  Not perfect, just changed.  Would you like to ask Him into your heart right now?"

            "I sure would," said Greyspot.  "How do I do it?"

            "Just say after me: 'Jesus, I know I've done wrong.  I'm sorry.  Please forgive me, come into my heart and help me do good.  Thank you, in Jesus name, Amen!"

            "Hey!  I feel different!  Clean, kind of.  It really worked!  Thanks, Soft Paws.  Boy, I sure wish the people in Greyland knew about this."

            "Greyland?" asked Soft Paws.  Where's that?"

            "Oh, that's across the sea, where I come from.  Nobody ever told us about the Most High God over there.  Maybe I'll get to go back someday and tell them.  I sure hope so.  My Mom and Dad don't know God can hear their thoughts or that He loves them, or that Jesus paid their 'wrong doing' bills."

            "Maybe God is calling you to be a missionary, Greyspot."

            "What's that?"

            "That's someone who goes to people who don't know God and tells them about Him so they can accept Him like you just did.  Then he teaches them from the Bible so they know how to live right and how to tell others how to accept God."

            "Boy, Soft Paws, that sounds like the thing to do.  Will you pray with me so I can go back and help the people of Greyland?"

            "I sure will.  Let's pray now."

            The two join hands and begin to pray.

(Copyright September 4, 1999.  Warren G. Blaisure)

Chapter 6 -- Trouble at Troublesome Creek

          "Hey Bruiser, watch where you're swinging that fish pole.  You almost hooked me!" said Big Ears.

            "You worry too much." answered Bruiser as he swung the pole again.

            "Ouch!" yelled Big Ears.  "You hooked me!  OW!  That hurts!  Help me get it out!  I told you to watch out!"

            "Oh, don't be a baby, it's just a little hook.  You're hollering like I'd cut off you arm."

            He pulled the hook out of Big Ears arm.  It had barely pricked the skin through his thick fur, but Big Ears was hurt and mad.

            "You're so careless, Bruiser.  All you think about is your fun.  You don't care if you hurt others."

            "Your too touchy!" said Bruiser.

            "Am not!" said Big Ears.

            "Are too!"

            "Am not!"

            "Are too!"

            "Am not!"

            "Oh forget it." Bruiser said in disgust.

            "I won't forget it! said Big Ears.  "Some friend you are.  Here I am bleeding and hurting and all you do is argue with me and keep fishing."

            "Oh, shut up!  You stupid Buni!" shouted Bruiser.

            "You Swore!  You used a bad word!  You called me stupid!  Boy are you in trouble now!  Wait until I tell you mom!  She'll fix you.  You don't ever call anybody stupid!  That's what she said.  I heard her.  She said you'd really be in trouble if you called anybody that word again!"

            "Opps!" said Bruiser.  "You're right!  Mom said never to use that word again.  I'm sorry, Big Ears.  I said it because I was angry.  You're not really stupid.  I'm sorry!  Will you forgive me for hurting you and calling you names?  I was careless and I am sorry."

            "I don't know.  That was really mean." said Big Ears.  " And I did warn you, but you didn't listen to me."

            "I know.  I was just excited about fishing and didn't want to waste any time.  I wasn't thinking about the danger.  Will you forgive me, please?" asked Bruiser.

            "Well, I guess I will.  After all, Jesus said if your friend or brother does something to hurt you, even 7 times in one day and asks for forgiveness, we are to forgive him.  You did the right thing by saying you're sorry.  I'm sorry too. I was really grouchy and made a big thing of a little one.  I'll forgive you.  Will you forgive me?"

            "Sure," said Bruiser, "Can we get back to fishing now?"

            "Yeah, let's have a good time.  I'll move a little farther away so you have lots of room to swing that fish pole!" said Big Ears.  "I don't want you to catch another Buni fish.  One is enough for today."

            The two friends went back to fishing and had a great day of fun.

(Copyright September 12, 1999 warren G. Blaisure)