Survivors For kids in tough places

Hello, Survivor

This book is special and it is just for you.

It is full of thoughts to think and things to do.

It will help you heal and grow.

What you have been through, only you know.

So no two books will look the same.

Go ahead and write your name!

My Name is: __________________

And I am a Survivor!

Lick your thumb and push it in the ground.

Now in the oval press your thumb down.

You have just signed your book with your own fingerprint!

My oh my, that is just magnificent!

See on page 23 why your thumb print is so important!

Foreword 115 words

How TREE survived

TREE lived in a forest with lots of other trees. There were many different types of trees of all shapes and sizes. The sun and rain helped the trees grow taller and stronger.

Together they made shade for other plants. Many birds, small animals, and insects lived there too. It was a wonderful place!

TREE was very happy.

One day, TREE heard strange noises in the forest. They grew louder by the second ... Bang-bang! Clang-clang! Soon all the animals and birds started running and flying away. TREE could see other trees and plants being crushed by big metal machines!

There was nothing that TREE could do! TREE had never been so scared before! At last, the horrible noises stopped. Only a few trees had survived. But they were now so far away that TREE felt all alone.

Big, grey clouds g

How TREE Survived 372 words

All About me!

Find TREE in the forest on page 5.
TREE lives with many different friends.
How many of TREE's friends can you see?

What a wonderful world!

Where do you live?
What is your favorite thing about where you live?

God made the whole world and it is beautiful!
And God made YOU!

God created human beings in his own likeness.

He created them to be like himself.
He created them as male and female.
Genesis 1:27

God made you! And there is only one you in the whole wide world! WOW!

Because he made you, God knows you inside and out!
He knows exactly how many hairs are growing on your head.
He knows even the deepest secrets in your heart.

Made by God

Before the world began, there was nothing. It was dark and empty.
But then, God made the heavens a

All About me! 364 words

What makes me, ME!

Look at TREE’s friends on pages 4 and 5.

Are all the trees the same?

No! They all look so different, right?

Do you know that every tree is unique?

This means that no two trees are the same.

Even trees that look the same on the outside, are different on the inside!

Each tree has its own special pattern inside its trunk.

Just like fingerprints!

Have another look at where you made your fingerprint on page 1.

Isn’t that amazing?

There are different kinds of gifts. There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:4-5

Our story today is about a man named Gideon.
When God made Gideon, he gave him special gifts.
These gifts helped Gideon and others.
God has given you special gifts too!

What makes me, ME! 415 words

Why do I feel like this?

How can you tell when a tree isn’t getting enough water? How do you know when a tree is sick?

You can see it on the outside! Maybe the tree has changed colour. Maybe the tree’s leaves have stopped growing. Or maybe the tree is falling over!

When it comes to feelings, people are like trees. We show our feelings on the outside too!

Our faces and bodies show how we feel.

People can see if we are happy, or sad, or angry, or scared.

"The Lord himself will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never leave you. He’ll never desert you. So don’t be afraid. Don’t lose hope."
— Deuteronomy 31:8

Do you know God created all your feelings? They are all important!
Your feelings can help you.
Anger can make you strong.
Fear can make you hide from danger.
Love helps you care for others.

![81.png](https://biblica

Why do I feel like this? 403 words

When I feel angry

What happens to a tree when the sun is too hot?
Sometimes its leaves start to burn and fall off!
And what happens when strong winds blow?
They can snap a tree in two! (Look at pages 8 and 9.)

How can a tree protect itself?
It can’t tell a cloud to cover the sun! And it can’t tell the wind to stop blowing!

But it can grow strong, deep roots. These roots reach the water and help the tree stand firm!

What do people do to protect themselves?

When things go wrong, getting angry is one way we try to cope.

Everyone should be quick to listen.
But they should be slow to speak.
They should be slow to get angry.
Human anger doesn’t produce the holy life God wants.
James 1:19–20

Do you know that even J

When I feel angry 600 words

When I feel sad and lonely

Do you remember what happened to TREE in the story at the beginning? How TREE lost all its family and friends? Remember how TREE felt?
(Take another look at TREE's story.)

Everyone gets sad and feels alone sometimes.
We feel like we don’t matter. Like no one cares.
But God sees us! He cares!

God has not forgotten the one who is hurting.
He has not turned away from his suffering.
He has not turned his face away from him.
He has listened to his cry for help.
— Psalm 22:24

God comforts you when you are sad.
To be comforted means knowing that you are not alone.

God won’t always stop the sad and lonely times.
But when you believe in Jesus, you know the sadness will pass. You will be happy again.

Even when you feel small, God is with you.
Even when you feel you aren’t important, God loves you. You matter to him.

**You can trust God with anything

When I feel sad and lonely 479 words

Thank you!

How do you know when a tree is strong and healthy?
Look at how it grows! Does it have a good, thick trunk? Are the leaves green and fresh?

Trees need sun and water to be healthy.
They also need good soil and room to grow.
Then when the trees face storms they can still stand strong.

People are a lot like trees. To be healthy and to grow, we also need good things around us. One way God takes care of us, is by putting good people in our lives. Like family and friends who can help us grow.

It isn’t always easy to feel thankful when bad things have happened to you. That is okay.

Saying thank you is about learning to look for what is good in your life. This gives you hope for the future.

Draw TREE looking strong and happy.

"Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good.
His faithful love continues for ever."
Psalm 118:1

Thank you! 428 words

I am a Survivor

Think back to TREE’s story. When the machines appeared, everything that TREE knew was lost. Then the storm came, and TREE had to fight to survive. It was a horrible time.

But, what happened to TREE after that? Did TREE stop growing? No! Actually, TREE grew even taller and stronger! Just like TREE, you have also been through so much. It isn’t fair! Maybe you feel lonely, or scared. But just like TREE you can also grow even stronger than before!

I have told you these things, so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you will have trouble. But be encouraged! I have won the battle over the world.
John 16:33

Know that through all the storms God loves you. We don’t know why horrible things happen. But what you can know is that God wants to be close to you.

He wants you to be with him always!

GOD HELPS YOU BE BRAVE

I am a Survivor 558 words

Becoming part of God’s family

This might be the first time that you have heard about how much God loves and cares for you.

Do you want to find out how to become part of God’s family?

When God created the world, the first people, Adam and Eve, were friends with God. (You read their story on page 19.)

But then they stopped listening to God.

They tried to do things their way.

Because of that, sin entered the world and everything changed. People started doing bad things and hurting each other.

Like Adam and Eve, all of us do things that are wrong and not what God wants.

When we break God’s rules, it is called sin.

Sin separates us from God.

But God loves us so much.

He sent his son, Jesus, to this world.
Jesus came to save us from our sins and heal us from our hurts.

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.
Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.

Becoming Part of God's Family 429 words

Animal Stretches

When our feelings become too big, it can feel like they are going to burst out of our bodies. It can feel like we might lose control.

Stretching can help us use up some of that emotion. It can help us to calm our bodies.

Let us give them a try!

Don't forget to breathe slowly as you stretch!

Elephant Stretch

Bring your hands together in front of your body and link your fingers together. This is your trunk.
Now with your trunk stretch up as high as you can. You want to pick the best fruit at the top of the trees. So, s-t-r-e-t-c-h!
After all that good fruit, you must be getting thirsty. Reach down with your trunk to get some water from the ground.

Can your trunk touch the ground?

Monkey Swing

What is a monkey’s favourite thing to do? Swinging from

Animal Stretches 338 words

Feeling Wheel

Sometimes, it can be hard to know how we are feeling. This feeling wheel can help you with that.

Look at all the faces below.
Which face is showing what your face is doing right now?

Look in a mirror to see your face!

Now, match the color of the face you chose on the feeling wheel. This is the name for what you are feeling!

Ask an adult you trust to tell you more about that feeling.
Talk to them about why you are feeling that way.

_Remem

Feeling Wheel 106 words