Rainy Day Riddle

It was raining, and Dante was bored. "Grandpa, this weather ruined our fishing," he complained. "What can I do now?" Grandpa settled back in his rocker. "Know any good riddles?" he asked.Dante thought for a minute. "What's black and white and red all over?"Grandpa snapped his fingers. "A newspaper," he said."Nope." Dante grinned. "An embarrassed zebra!" Grandpa laughed. "I know another one," said Dante. "What happens to a blue shoe that is thrown into the Red Sea?""Well, I believe blue and red mixed together make purple," said Grandpa. "So I guess the shoe turns purple?"Dante shook his head. "No, it gets wet." They both laughed, and then Dante asked, "Do you know any riddles, Grandpa?""Well, let's see." Grandpa reached into his pocket, pulled out his hand, and held out a closed fist. "In my hand there is something no one on earth has ever seen," he said. "The farmer who grew it, the grocer who sold it, your grandma who bought it--none of them has seen it. I have it in my hand, but I've never seen it either.""That can't be right!" said Dante. "Let me see it." Grandpa opened his hand. "It's a peanut!" exclaimed Dante. "Lots of people have seen that.""Lots of people have seen this peanut shell, but who's ever seen the peanut inside the shell?" asked Grandpa. Dante hadn't thought of that. "There is one Person who knows exactly what this peanut looks like though," Grandpa said. "Do you know who that is, Dante?""God!" Dante answered. "He knows everything, doesn't He?"Grandpa nodded. "He sure does. He even knows what you're feeling and thinking. God loves you, and His love is very special because He knows you so well. Jesus understands everything you go through because He experienced the same things we do when He became human to save us. He always knows exactly what you need.""He knows I needed a riddle to laugh about on a rainy day like this," said Dante. He eyed the peanut. "And He knows I'm hungry."Grandpa laughed and tossed him the peanut. "I guess it's time to crack that shell open and finally see the peanut inside!" -Marilyn J. Senterfitt