Varenka, and the God who sees. . .

       I stumbled upon this unusual book called "Varenka" inside of the stacks of an old used bookstore back in the 1990s and thought it a wonderful story about faith. As my children grew older we would read it together and talk about the very terrible things that happen during war. Because it is difficult to find books that are age appropriate for this topic (ages 4 - 9), this one by Bernadette Watts stands out and comes highly recommended by our family.

"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, 
keeping watch on the wicked and the
good," Proverbs 15:3

        Deep in the forest - there lived a poor little peasant grandmother who was very wise for her years. Her name was Varvara meaning faith or trust, but the few who knew her called her Varenka; a nickname that changes the former into a faith that is foreign or strange.

       Varenka's cottage was located far from any town or city. It was filled with simple necessities like: a stove, a table with chairs, a pantry with shelves for plates and food, a cot for sleeping above the stove and most important, an icon on the wall surrounded by flowers.

       One day, people from far away began to run from the city, they took little with them. They were in such a hurry that they ran past Varenka's cottage. A few of them hesitated at Varenka's home and warned her to flee even deeper into the forest. 

       "In the west there is horrible fighting and so many are dead." 

       But Varenka could not join them; she feared for the fate of her poor animals and for the care of children she often found wandering, lost in the forest. 

       So, Varenka bolted the door to her cottage, and began to pray to the God she knew. Her icon portrayed Him as a small child in the arms of his mother. His eyes were wide and knowing; those eyes could see everywhere and everyone who trusted in Him. 

       "Please, please build a wall around my house so that soldiers when they pass here, will not see me." Varenka pleaded.

       As the short anxious week passes Varenka shelters a small group of people in her cottage: an elderly shepherd with a goat, an artist with his potted plant and a lost orphan child with her dove. Each of these characters prays with Varenka for God to hide them apart from the soldiers and violence. But God is quiet and they all wait.

       Then ever so gently the snow falls all night before the soldiers arrive - and the small forest dwelling and all of it's hidden people are saved from the enemy.

       After the snow melts, war ends in that part of the world and the people saved by the God who sees - thank him for a new chance at life.

• Read more about Bernadette at Simon & Schuster
• The redeemed reader also recommends this book by Bernadette

PragmaticMom, Mia Wenjen takes a look at 

a seldomly shared children's book about war.