The King's Jewels: A Children's Parable of Love Lost and Love Regained

I wrote this parable after my first wife's sickness and death from ovarian cancer to explain to the little children of our church why I was bringing a new lady to church. Reflecting on its content now, I can see how this parable might benefit a child after a parent's death or divorce, especially when a remaining parent considers re-marriage. The parable might also solace a little child who experiences adoption or the loss of a grandparent, a close friend, or a perhaps even a beloved pet. So to those ends I publish the parable with the hope that it will be a comfort to a little child or a parent; after all, what greater comfort do we as parents have than to comfort our children? Technically, this work is not a parable but an analogy, which is an extended metaphor or simile, but I have titled the work a parable so that parents can explain to their children what a parable is and, I suppose, explain metaphors and analogies as well. Like all parables, this parable is didactic in nature, intended to teach lessons that transcend the parable itself. The lessons herein are about God's sovereignty and goodness in life's adversities, with a little Greek, French, and other unusual vocabulary thrown in here and there for children's instruction. My hope is that this simple story may be to some measure a blessing and encouragement to someone, not only in a time of love lost but also, hopefully, in a time of love gained.