Oh, howdy there, tiny theologian. It's me, Farmer Caroline. And who-wee do I have a whopper of a story for you today.

It's day 18 of our Jesse Tree journey, and today's tale is splashy, swirly, and full of second chances.

Now before we start, go on and grab your day 18 Jesse Tree card and your fish ornament.

That's right, the one that looks like a big old sea creature.

I'll give you a sec to find it.

Got it?

All right now, let's get to it.

Today, we're talking about a fella named Jonah.

The Lord told Jonah to go and preach to the people of a city called Nineveh.

But Jonah didn't want to.

No, sir.

He didn't like the Ninevites one bit.

So instead of going east, like God said,

he high-tailed it west, hopped on a ship, and tried to run from the Lord.

Bless his heart, he thought he could hide from God.

But, tiny theologian, the Lord sent a big old storm, and Jonah knew it was because he was disobeying. So he told the sailors to throw him overboard.

And just when you think that was the end of the story, gulp, along came a giant fish and swallowed Jonah right up.

Jonah spent three whole days inside that fish, praying and crying out to God.

And God, in his mercy, gave Jonah a second chance.

He told the fish to spit Jonah out onto dry land.

F-toe!

Now, let me read what your Jesse Tree card says for today.

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