Published by Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, Ohiowww.standardpub.com

Text Copyright © 2007 Crystal BowmanIllustrations Copyright © 2007 Joy Allen

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in reviews, without the written permission of the publisher. Printed in China.

Project editor: Laura DericoCover & interior design: Wes Youssi, The DesignWorks Group

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-0-7847-2098-1

13 12 11 10 09 08 07 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Written by

Crystal BowmanIllustrated by

Joy Allen

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This is the House in the middle of town;

The shutters are crooked and falling down.

The grass is dry and the weeds are tall,

The flowers don’t grow or blossom at all.

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We all know that house in the middle of town, where

the grass is dry and the weeds are tall ,

the flowers don’t grow or blossom at all .

And we all know those people in the middle of our lives

whose hearts are tired, and spirits are sore;

they cannot find joy or hope anymore.

In Mark 13:31, Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. When we show love to our neighbors, even in simple ways, we

are honoring and obeying God while being a blessing to our neighbors. Young children love to help—it makes them feel useful and important. And helping others is a way to teach children how to put into action the life and love that God has given them. Include your child whenever possible in activities that can

put joy in a heart and a smile on a face,

and make someone glad to know Jesus’ grace . . . maybe even at the house in the middle of your town.

Crystal Bowman

A Note from the Author :

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