Sue's Imaginarium

  As children grow, one of the most important life skills they must learn is how to recognise bad influence. Every child will eventually meet people who encourage unhealthy behaviour, poor choices, disrespect, dishonesty, bullying, or dangerous actions. This can happen at school, online, in friendships, or even within familiar environments. Many parents naturally want to protect their children from every negative influence, but the truth is that children will not always remain under direct supervision. One day, they will have to make decisions on their own. This is why teaching discernment early is extremely important. Children need to understand not only what bad influence looks like, but also how to confidently walk away from it without feeling ashamed, pressured, or afraid. What Is Bad Influence? A simple way to explain bad influence to children is this: “Bad influence is when someone encourages you to do things that hurt you, hurt others, make you uncomfortable, or move you aw...

  Once upon a time, in a village surrounded by tall palm trees and golden fields of millet, there lived a young girl named Tami . Tami was bright and energetic, always running ahead of her thoughts. She laughed loudly, played boldly, and sometimes spoke before thinking. In the center of the village square stood an old wooden table, and on it rested a large, beautifully carved calabash . It was smooth and polished, with patterns of waves and birds etched into its sides. The villagers used it to store grain during harvest season. But this calabash was no ordinary bowl. It had a reputation. The elders said long ago, a wise woman had blessed it with a simple purpose: it would never hide lies. Whenever someone spoke dishonestly near it, the calabash would react. Sometimes it rattled. Sometimes it shifted. And sometimes, if the lie was serious enough, a thin crack would appear along its side. Because of this, people were careful near it. Disagreements were settled honestly. Promises...

Once upon a time, in a lively village where mornings smelled of roasted corn and laughter echoed between mud houses, there lived a child named Kito . Kito was known for two things: his quick feet and his quicker smile. Whenever Market Day arrived, Kito was the first child awake and the last to leave the square. Market Day was not just a day—it was an event. Drums beat from dawn. Women spread bright cloths on wooden tables. Men shouted prices with playful pride. Goats bleated, chickens flapped, and children ran between stalls like excited birds. This particular Market Day felt special. Kito’s mother handed him a small woven basket filled with groundnut cakes and said, “Kito, today you will help me sell. Remember, each cake is two cowrie shells . Not one more, not one less.” Kito nodded eagerly. He liked responsibility. It made him feel grown. “And Kito,” his mother added, kneeling to his height, “promise me you will be honest. Even when no one is watching.” “I promise,” Kito said ...

Once upon a time, in a bright green valley where the air smelled of flowers and the sky felt close enough to touch, there lived a little sparrow named Pip . Pip was small. Very small. His wings were quick, his feathers were brown and soft, and his voice was light and chirpy. He could hop, flutter, and zip through tiny spaces where bigger birds could never go. But Pip was not happy. Because every single day, high above the valley, an eagle flew. And the eagle was magnificent. Watching from Below The eagle soared across the sky with wings so wide they seemed to stretch from cloud to cloud. When he flew, the wind listened. When he cried out, the mountains echoed. Pip watched from a low branch, his heart sinking. “Why don’t I look like that?” Pip muttered. “Why are my wings so small?” “Why do I have to be… me?” Whenever the eagle flew past, Pip stopped singing. What was the point of his tiny song when the eagle ruled the sky? The Seed of Comparison Soon, Pip began to compar...

In a lively forest not far from a bustling village market lived a clever monkey named Kito . Kito was known for two things: his quick hands and his curious eyes. He noticed everything—especially things that sparkled, shone, or stood out. But more than bananas, more than laughter, more than rest, Kito loved hats . Not just any hats. Bright hats. Tall hats. Feathered hats. Hats with bells. Hats with colours so bold they could wake the sun. Whenever Kito visited the market, his eyes danced from stall to stall. “One hat is nice,” he would say. “But two is better.” And so his collection began. A Hat for Every Mood At first, Kito took only one hat. He wore it proudly, swinging from tree to tree, greeting the birds like a king. The forest animals admired him. “You look very smart,” said the parrot. “That hat suits you,” said the antelope. Kito smiled. The next market day, he returned and found another hat—this one wider, brighter, louder. “Why choose?” Kito thought. “I can have ...

  Life is full of choices. Some choices feel small—what music to listen to, who to sit with at school, what videos to watch online. Other choices feel big—who to trust, what kind of person to become, and what you believe about God. Psalm 1 is a short chapter in the Bible, but it teaches a powerful lesson about choices and where they lead. Before we explain the Psalm, let’s start with a short story that many kids and teens can relate to. A Short Story: The Two Friend Groups Jordan had just started a new school. On the first week, two different groups of students invited him to hang out. The first group was loud and popular. They joked a lot, but sometimes their jokes were mean. They skipped class, laughed at teachers, and made fun of kids who tried hard. Being around them made Jordan feel “cool,” but also uncomfortable inside. The second group was quieter. They weren’t perfect, but they tried to do the right thing. They helped each other with homework, talked openly about their st...

  History often remembers nations by their wars and leaders by their victories. But there are stories that never make it into stone — stories of hearts that change in silence, far away from crowds and medals. This is one of those stories. Once upon a time, in the great age of Roman domination, there lived a general named Cassian Aurex . His name travelled faster than his army. Cities surrendered at the sound of his approach. Enemies spoke his name in whispers. Senators applauded him loudly, and his soldiers followed him without question. Cassian never lost. By the time his hair began to show even the faintest silver, statues had already risen in his honour throughout Rome. Sculptors carved his face from marble. Poets praised his discipline. Children memorised his victories. Cassian walked the streets like a living monument. And slowly, his heart became stone. He began to believe he had been shaped by the gods themselves, carved with purpose and strength like the statues that b...

In the heart of Africa, nestled between tall mango trees and wide dusty paths, lay a joyful little village called Zambele . Zambele was one of those places where laughter travelled faster than news and everyone knew your business before you finished living it. And this Christmas, the village was ready. The women were pounding fufu in huge wooden mortars, their laughter rising with each rhythm. The men were tying colourful cloth from one pole to another, arguing loudly about which colour looked better. The children practised Christmas songs under the mango tree, occasionally forgetting lyrics but never forgetting energy. Everywhere you turned, Christmas was alive. But then… Disaster struck. The village goat, Baba Boo , was missing. Not just missing. Vanished. And Baba Boo was no ordinary goat. Baba Boo was Christmas royalty. Every year, he wore ribbons tied proudly around his horns and pulled the little wooden cart filled with gifts from the elders to the village children. Witho...