Ellie the Eagle Learns That God Holds the World
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story
God is always in control, even when
life feels uncertain or frightening. No matter how high we soar or how low we fall, His hands are strong enough to
hold us. When storms come and winds blow, we can rest in the truth that God never lets
us go. He watches over every creature, big and small, guiding us safely through every
challenge. We don’t have to be afraid of what we cannot see, because the One who made the
world holds it perfectly in His care. Faith means trusting that God’s hands are never too small, too weak, or too far
away to protect us.
High above the mountain cliffs,
where the clouds brushed against the sun, lived a young eagle named Ellie.
Her wings were strong and wide, but she was still learning how to fly long
distances and face the wind without fear.
Every day, her mother encouraged her
to glide higher and trust the air beneath her wings. But Ellie was nervous.
“What if I fall?” she asked one morning. “What if the wind blows me the wrong
way?”
Her mother smiled gently. “You must
learn to trust the One who made the wind, Ellie. God’s hands hold you, just as
they hold the sky.”
Ellie tilted her head. “God holds me?
Even way up here?”
Her mother nodded. “He holds the
mountains, the rivers, and every bird that flies. His hands are big enough for
the whole world and small enough to hold you.”
That afternoon, as the sun dipped
low, Ellie perched on a rock at the cliff’s edge and looked down. The valley
stretched far below, a carpet of trees, lakes, and fields. She wanted to
believe what her mother said, but the thought of falling made her feathers
tremble.
Just then, a group of children in the village below began singing. Their voices floated upward through the warm air:
He’s got the whole world in His hands,
He’s got the whole wide world in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
Ellie listened, eyes wide. “That
song,” she whispered. “It’s about Him holding everything, maybe even me.”
She closed her eyes and imagined
God’s great hands cupping the mountains, the clouds, the rivers, and the tiny
creatures below. Her heart felt light, like the wind had brushed her worries
away.
The next morning, dark clouds
gathered over the valley. A storm was coming. The wind howled through the
trees, and lightning flashed across the sky. Ellie’s nest shook as thunder
rolled over the mountains.
Her little brother Eli
huddled beside her. “I’m scared,” he squeaked. “What if the wind blows our nest
away?”
Ellie looked down at him and
remembered the song she’d heard. She took a deep breath and said, “Don’t be
afraid, Eli. God’s got the whole world in His hands, even us.”
Her mother swooped in just then. “We
have to move to the big oak tree,” she said. “It’s stronger than this one.
Follow me!”
Eli hesitated. The wind was fierce.
Ellie’s heart raced, but she knew what she had to do.
She spread her wings wide. “Come on,
Eli,” she said. “God’s holding us. We’ll be all right.”
Together they leaped into the air.
The wind roared around them, but Ellie held her wings steady. The air pushed
and pulled, but she remembered her mother’s words, trust the One who made
the wind.
Through flashes of lightning and
gusts of rain, Ellie guided her little brother toward the oak tree. Her feathers
were soaked, her wings heavy, but she kept flying.
When they finally landed safely, Eli
hugged her tightly. “You did it!” he cried.
Ellie smiled. “No,” she said softly.
“God did it. He held us in His hands.”
The storm passed, and a golden
sunset filled the valley. The trees sparkled with raindrops, and a rainbow
stretched across the sky. Ellie spread her wings again and soared above the
mountains, the light of the rainbow shining on her feathers.
From high above, she could see the
children below, their voices rising again:
He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands,
He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands,
He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
Ellie laughed with joy. “He’s got
the little ones, the big ones, and even the scared ones, like me!”
As she glided gracefully across the sky, she began to sing along in her heart:
He’s got you and me, brother, in His hands.
He’s got you and me, sister, in His hands.
He’s got you and me, brother, in His hands.
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
That night, the stars glimmered like
diamonds across the heavens. Ellie perched beside her mother and looked out at
the world below.
“Now I understand,” she said softly.
“No matter how high I fly or how strong the storm, I’ll never be out of His
hands.”
Her mother smiled. “That’s right,
Ellie. The One who made you never lets go.”
Ellie closed her eyes and whispered
a prayer of thanks, her heart peaceful and full. She had finally learned that
she was safe, strong, and deeply loved, because the same God who holds the
world holds her, too.
Poem
When the wind begins to blow,
And the sky turns dark below,
Remember, child, God’s mighty hands,
Hold every sea and stretch of land.
He holds the birds, the stars, the trees,
The rivers are wide, the deepest seas.
So when you fear or cannot stand,
Just rest; you’re in His loving hand.
Questions
for Thought
1.
What was Ellie afraid of at the
beginning of the story?
2.
How did the song help her remember
that God is always in control?
3.
What are some ways you can trust
that God is holding you, even when life feels scary?
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