Georgia Grace
By Jean Boonstra
Georgia is at Discovery Mountain summer camp, but she’s feeling homesick. She’s about to discover a solution to her homesickness—and exercise her faith!
Georgia found a quiet corner in the cafeteria. She stared at her breakfast. She felt too sad to eat.
“Georgia Grace?” a voice asked.
Georgia nodded and wiped a tear from her eye.
“This ended up in a pile of dirty laundry,” Aliyah said setting the package down next to her. “It’s addressed to Georgia Grace.”
Georgia recognized her mother’s handwriting. “That’s for me!” she said excitedly and tore open the brown paper.
“Your mother sent you a recipe and chocolate chips,” Aliyah commented.
Georgia’s face lit up with a smile. “My mom knew I’d feel homesick today,” she explained. “Every year on this day my family bakes chocolate chip cookies.”
Aliyah frowned a little in confusion.
“It’s a family tradition,” Georgia explained. “Aliyah,” she added excitedly, “will you help me talk to Cook and see if I can have permission to bake cookies in the cafeteria kitchen?”
Aliyah hesitated. “I have to eat my breakfast right now,” she said.
Georgia hopped up, forgetting about her own uneaten breakfast. “OK, I’ll find someone to help,” she said.
A few minutes later, Georgia crashed through the cafeteria doors almost running into Aliyah. “Aliyah,” she said happily. “Cook said that I can bake my cookies after lunch. Do you want to come to Trekkers with me to buy some ingredients?”
Aliyah really didn’t feel like going to Trekkers. “This is my break time” she explained. “I need to take a nap.”
Georgia smiled. “OK, I’ll find someone to help,” she said.
Aliyah went to her room for a nap and Georgia shopped for supplies.
At lunchtime, Georgia spotted Aliyah from across the cafeteria. “Do you want to help me bake cookies?”
Aliyah didn’t really want to bake. “I like to take a walk after lunch,” she explained.
Georgia smiled. “OK, I’ll find someone to help,” she said cheerfully.
After lunch, Aliyah walked around Little Lake and Georgia got to work in the kitchen.
“What smells so delicious?” Aliyah asked walking back into the cafeteria.
“Aliyah!” Georgia grinned. “It’s my cookies! They’re right there on the plate.”
Aliyah reached for a cookie, but the plate was empty.
“Oh,” Georgia said. “Judah must’ve eaten the last one.
“Judah?” Aliyah asked.
“Yes,” Georgia explained. “Judah helped me talk to Cook, he shopped with me at Trekkers and he helped me bake the cookies.”
Judah helped Georgia with exactly the things Aliyah had asked her to help with. “I see,” she said. “I’m glad that Judah got the last cookie. He deserves it for helping you.”
“Aliyah,” Georgia said. “Come on, there are more in the kitchen!”
“But,” Aliyah protested, “I didn’t help. I don’t deserve one.”
Georgia grabbed her arm. “I want you to have one.”
Suddenly, Aliyah remembered the handwriting on the package. “Georgia Grace. Your middle name is Grace.”
“Yeah,” Georgia said.
“Alright,” Aliyah smiled. “I’ll accept your cookie, Georgia Grace, even though I don’t deserve it.”
Georgia smiled. “Right this way!”
Why did Georgia’s middle name make Aliyah accept the cookie? Grace is what God offers us—we are all sinners, but because of God’s grace we are all saved. Aliyah didn’t deserve the cookie, but Georgia gave it to her anyway. God’s grace is sweet—even sweeter than a family favorite cookie. Listen to the episode here.
