The Boy, The Father and The Amazing Science Videos



Once upon a time there was a boy and his father. They lived alone in a small house in the country, some distance from town. The boy's mother had died when he was quite young but he was none the worse for it. His father was a good and kind man and loved his son dearly. Although the boy sometimes dreamed of what it would be like to have a mother, he couldn't imagine any more love in the house than what his father gave him. He equally loved his father immensely.

They were of meager means. They had but one small farm that provided all of their income. That is one of the many reasons that the father decided to homeschool his son. Although the farm was not expansive, it was still large enough to require both of their hard work to eek out a living. Although an important reason, his son's help was really one of the smaller arguments for teaching his son at home. He was a firm believer that children should be educated by their parents and that parents know what is best for their offspring. It was not a difficult decision, though. The two of them enjoyed being around each other and couldn't imagine it any other way.

Still, their situation in life did not make it easy for the father to educate his child. They had to scrimp and save for all of the materials they used. They couldn't afford the costly things that the public schools had. And, as happy as the boy was, the trappings of expensive supplies did not escape his notice. He often longed for better things to feed his inquisitive mind.

It was on one such evening that the father caught his son daydreaming.

"Are you finished reading your science Son?" inquired the kind father.

The startled boy looked up. "Hmm...? Oh! My science! Almost done Father."

The boy went back to his reading but the father could tell that his heart was not in it. The father waited. He knew that his son could keep no secrets from him. They shared everything.

As usual, Father knew best and the son looked up.

"Father," said the son slowly. "Could I get an extra job?"

"What for, my son?"

"Oh Father," exclaimed the boy as the father saw a tear trickling down his son's cheek. "You know that I love you and would never hurt you. I know that you work hard for all that we have and I didn't want to ask for more." The son hesitated.

The father put his arm around his son's shoulder. "Go on, Son." he said gently.

"It's science." the boy said quickly. Then all of a sudden it was as if the dam had been let loose. "I love science, Father. I love reading about all of the wonderful things that God created and the wonderful things that are around the world. I love reading about astronomy and biology and reading about physical science and...but that's just it, Father...it's all reading. The books that I read tell about all of the wonderful experiments that I could do and all of the wonderful things that I could learn from those things! Only we don't have the microscope and the petri dish and the chemicals or any of the special items that we need. And, Father, it's just like the desire for those things bubbles up inside of me sometimes and I covet those things...and, Father, I don't want to covet things...and...and...!" But the boy could not go on. He fell back against his father's arm in an exhausted heap.

The wise father sat back in his chair and thought for a moment. He knew what his son was feeling. He often saw fancy things that, he thought, would help them on the farm. Things that would make their job easier and their load lighter. He could empathise with his son. However, he also knew that taxing the boy with another job was not the answer. But, what was the answer? He wasn't sure.

"Son, " said the father finally. "I'll tell you what we'll do. Let's commit ourselves to prayer this evening. Perhaps the Lord will give us the answer. It's about time for bed, isn't it? We have a busy day tomorrow."

"Yes, Father." said the son hesitantly. He knew that his father was right. He had been taught since he was a very young child not to jump into things too quickly. He knew that prayer and thought were best. Perhaps he would see things in a different light in the morning.

Later, as the father passed his son's room, he saw the boy kneeling beside his bed and praying earnestly. He knew in his heart what his son was praying about and he knew what he had to do. He silently went into his chamber, shut the door and knelt by his bed, also praying earnestly for his son's desires, his job request, and their lot in life. He thanked God for the plenty that He had given them, but also prayed that, perhaps, God would grant his son the desires of his heart - at least in some small way.

Unbeknownst to the father was that, as he was praying, his boy had gotten into bed, fallen asleep, and was having one of his mysterious dreams again. He had had similar dreams before. It was always of a kind lady that said she was from The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. This time the kind lady's name was "Kate".

"My dear boy," said Kate softly. "Do not fret. God has heard your prayers and has chosen me to grant your wish. Soon you will be receiving something wonderful in the mail. You may not think that it is wonderful at first. You may even look at it disdainfully and ponder how it could ever help you with your problem. Nevertheless, it will help. You must trust God, open the package and use what is inside. Then, you must tell others of the wonderful things that you found."

With that, the kind lady was gone.

The next morning the boy got up and told his father about his amazing dream.

"Well, then," said the father. "That must be God's answer. We will wait for the package."

And they did. It didn't come the first day. Nor, to the boy's disappointment, did it come the next. Finally, though, on the third day, when he went to check the mail, it was there.

"Father, Father," yelled the boy as he ran down the lane. "It came! It came!"

"Well, open it and we shall see how the Lord has blessed us." answered the father. His heart was also beating quickly and he was almost as excited as his son. The father watched his son closely, remembering all that the boy had told him about the dream.



True to what kind Kate had said, as soon as he tore open the package the boy's brow began to furrow.

"It's a package of DVD's! How can they be the answer..."

"Remember, what the kind lady in your dream said." interrupted the father as he took the package from his son. "The DVD's are called Amazing Science! Perhaps you should watch them before rushing to judgement."

So, that is what the boy did. He took the package of two DVD's, put the first one in their DVD player, and began to watch. As his son watched, Father went to the kitchen to begin fixing breakfast. Suddenly he saw his boy dashing out of the back door.

"Where are you going son?" he called quickly.

"I'm going to milk the cow." answered the breathless boy.

"But we have milk here in the refrigerator."

"I need fresh milk! I'm going to bond some fat!"

"Your going to do WHAT!?"

"Never mind...I'll explain later." exclaimed the boy as he disappeared around the corner.

Soon the son was back with a fresh pail of milk. He explained to his confused father what was about to happen as he gathered the milk, food coloring, cotton swab and dish detergent. The father was curious as he watched his son carefully drop some food coloring into some milk that he had poured into the bottom of a plate. He watched as his son dipped the cotton swab into the dish detergent and then gently touch it to the food coloring. The food coloring so suddenly began to shoot in all directions that it made the man jump back in amazement.

"What just happened, Son?" asked the astonished father.

The boy excitedly explained, "Why, this very nice man on the DVD named, Jason, explained that dish detergent is 'specially made to bond with fats and grease. He said that the milk has fat in it and that, when I touched the detergent to the milk, it made the milk move. The food coloring really doesn't have anything to do with it. It's just there to show you the milk moving. Isn't it really neat?"

"I am truly amazed my son." answered the father. But his son didn't hear. He was back watching the video again. Normally the father would have had the boy clean up his mess, but this time he didn't. He knew what was happening. God had, indeed, answered their prayers.

Suddenly, the father again saw the boy dash out the door.

"Where are you going now?" he called.

"I'm going to the chicken coop to get a fresh egg. Oh, and Father, could you please wash out one of the used milk bottles while I'm gone? I'll be right back."

By this time the father knew not to question the boy. He just shook his head and went right to work washing the bottle. Soon he was amazed by another great experiment.

"Father!" said the boy quickly. "Jason says that almost all of the things needed to do my experiments we have around the house. Can I do all 23 experiments today!?"

"Perhaps just three or four today, Son." said the wise father. "Remember, you have your other school work and chores to do."

The boy knew that the father was right and went about doing his chores. That night, after a busy day of  chores, experiments, and other schoolwork the boy silently went in and stood beside his father's chair.

"What is it, my boy?" asked the father.

Sheepishly, the boy asked, "Father, could I still get that job."

"But, why, my son? " asked the surprised father, "Has not God provided some wonderful videos with wonderful science experiments that you can do with things around the house?"

"Yes, Father, but soon I will be out of experiments to do and, " he hesitated, "well, this is just the first volume of Amazing Science! videos. I'm sure there is going to be another volume come out soon. The first volume was only $19.95 and I'd like to start saving for the new one."

"Hmm..." thought the father, "Mrs. Brown has been wanting some fresh eggs and milk but I just haven't had time to deliver some to her. She said she would pay nicely for them. If you could promise to deliver some to her twice a week I'll give you the money to save for the new video."

"Oh! Thank you Father!" shouted the boy as he gave him a big hug. "I can't wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow we're going to try to burn some money!"

"All right, Son. That sounds wonderful." said the father as he went back to his newspaper. Then suddenly he sat up again. "Son...did you say burn money!?"

************

The story you have just read is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Oh! All right! This story is about me and Joshua but it is almost true. At least some parts of it is. You'll have to figure out what parts!

Oh! And by the way! These video's are truly amazing! You can purchase them by clicking here or on any one of the hi-lighted links above. If you wish to see what the other TOS Homeschool Crew members had to say, just click here. Happy Homeschooling!

Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew I was sent Amazing Science! Vol. 1 to try out and give my honest review on this blog.