The rain fell heavily outside.
Iretide stood with her face pressed against the cold glass, watching droplets race down the window as she drew little crosses in each corner of the pane.
She remembered Miss Bature explaining during Bible Club that love was shaped like a cross because JESUS carried our sin and bore its consequences Himself. She and her brother had attended every Thursday since summer began.
“Ire, it’s time to eat!” her dad called.
“I’m coming!” she shouted, running towards the dining table to claim her favourite seat before Daniel could.
“Hey! Stop running in the house,” her mom corrected gently.
“First to get to this seat!” Ire declared triumphantly.
After prayer, Mrs. Tunde served the food. “So, what did you learn at Bible Club today?”
“Ire was disturbing the class,” Daniel quickly reported.
“No, I wasn’t!”
Their father laughed. “Okay, what did you actually learn?”
“We learned that love is a cross,” Daniel answered proudly.
“And that JESUS bore our sin and sickness,” Ire added.
“And our past, present, and future sin,” Daniel continued.
“And…?” their father asked.
“That’s all,” Daniel replied.
Their mother smiled. “We’ll see about that.
”Later, after the table was cleared, the family gathered for devotion. Mr. Tunde opened his Bible to Matthew 12 and read the final verse: _“For whosoever shall do the will of MY FATHER which is in Heaven, the same is MY brother, and sister, and mother.”_
Ire leaned forward. “Daddy, what is the will of the FATHER?”
“That,” he said, smiling, “is a wonderful question. Your mother can explain it better.”
Mrs. Tunde smiled. “To understand the will of the FATHER, we have to go back to the beginning.”“Genesis?” Daniel asked.
“Exactly. Scripture is one unfolding story. To understand JESUS in Matthew, we must understand what came before HIM.”
She explained how GOD created humanity and placed Adam in the garden, giving him the responsibility to cultivate and keep it. The garden was more than a place to live; it was sacred space where humanity enjoyed fellowship with GOD and represented His rule.
“But Adam disobeyed,” she continued. “Sin brought separation, distortion, and death. Yet GOD did not abandon His purpose. Through the tabernacle, sacrifices, the prophets, and HIS covenant dealings with Israel, HE continued revealing HIS desire to dwell among HIS people.”
“How does that answer my question?” Ire asked.
“Because GOD’S will was always bigger than one moment,” her mother replied. “Humanity had lost its way, so JESUS came as the second Adam. Where Adam failed, JESUS obeyed. HE revealed what true humanity under GOD looks like and demonstrated the Kingdom through healing, restoration, mercy, and truth.”
Mr. Tunde added, “And when JESUS says that whoever does the FATHER’S will belongs to HIS family, HE is showing us the way back into GOD’S original purpose.
”He opened Matthew 28:18–20.
“JESUS died, rose again, received all authority, and commissioned HIS disciples to make disciples of all nations.”
He paused.
“That is the Divine Blueprint. GOD’s will is not a secret code reserved for a few. His purpose is to reconcile humanity to Himself through CHRIST and extend His Kingdom to the nations. And every one of us has a place in that purpose.”
The room became quiet.
Outside, the rain continued to fall.
But around that table, two children were beginning to see the bigger story and their place within it.
