The Escape – A Christian Story for Children

Today I’m sharing a story about a boy called George, who lived in London with his parents and in September 1939 was sent away as an evacuee to the countryside due to the World War 2 and possible threats on Great Britain.

This story is fictional but is is based on true facts that occurred in Great Britain in the wake of World War 2. The government created an evacuation initiative called Pied Piper in which children were relocated out of urban centres to locations where the risk of bombing attacks was low or non-existent. 

In this story, George is evacuated to a village in Kent called Harrietsham but he misses his parents terribly and through this difficult season in his life he learns to trust God.

The main teaching points in this story are the following:

– God provides (Philippians 4:19)

– God listens to the prayers of the righteous (1 Peter 3:12)

– Despite suffering and pain, as Christians we have hope because one day there will a new heaven, and a new earth and all death, crying, and suffering will be banished forever. (Revelation 21:4)

So here goes today’s story.

The Escape – A Christian Story for Children

London, 1939

It was a sunny day, and George was eating a sandwich in the garden. Even though the sun was shining, he was sad. His mummy had told him that morning that he was going to go away from home. 

– It’s because of the war—she had said

– But why?— he had asked. Mary, his mummy, explained: 

– Darling, we want you to be safe. It might be dangerous in London because of that nasty war I told you about.

– But mummy, I want to stay here with you—George said, tears filling his eyes

– I know. But we need you to be safe. Maybe it will only be for a little while.  And you know what? You’ll enjoy living in the countryside. 

The next day, his parents took him to the train station. The platform was crowded with parents and children. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He felt so sad to say goodbye, but he had little time to think about it. Soon the train left the platform, and before he knew it the train was puffing out of London into the countryside.

Two hours later found George standing on a platform with lots of other children in Harrietsham, a little village in Kent.  George waited, and soon an elderly couple came towards him. George smiled shyly. 

– Hello! You must be George. I’m Mrs Gibbons—said the woman, smiling kindly and holding out her gloved hand.

– Hello—said George, shaking her hand politely

– Well come along then—said Mr Gibbons—me and Mrs are glad to have you stay. We live yonder, over that hill. 

– We never had children of our own—said Mrs Gibbons—it’ll be lovely to have a child in the house. It’s going to be wonderful. You can play outside, look after our animals, and maybe you can join the village school. 

George spent the next few weeks doing exactly that. He spent his mornings in the village school, and most afternoons playing outside, bird watching or looking after Mr and Mrs Gibbons’ animals. He ate fresh eggs every day for breakfast, and he learnt how to ride a bike. But at night when all was quiet, and he wasn’t busy, he missed his parents and most nights he cried himself to sleep. He prayed every day that God would take him back to his mummy and daddy.

 A few months later, just before Christmas, George was sitting in his room one rainy afternoon when suddenly he heard a knock. Mrs Gibbons walked in 

– Hello dear—she said -Have you been getting letters from your mummy and daddy? 

– Yes—said George—why? 

– She sent me a letter yesterday. They want you back in London. You’re to get the morning train.

– Really? — George shouted for joy. Finally! Back with his parents.

The next day couldn’t come quickly enough. George hardly slept at night, such was his excitement. But finally sleep came, and soon after the morning sunshine. After breakfast, Mr and Mrs Gibbons took him to the train station, and before he knew it he was boarded and ready to go. 

Throughout the journey, George thanked God for answering his prayers. When he arrived in London, George ran out to meet his parents.

– Mummy! Daddy! I missed you so much.

– We did too, sweetie.

The next few months were not easy, though. Rations, news of German attacks, and fear seemed to take over everyday life. But through it all, George felt blessed to be with his parents. 

In the summer, after George came home from school one day, his parents told him that they were leaving London. The threat of attack on the city was too great, and his mummy had just found out she was expecting a baby. 

– I always wanted a baby brother or sister! But where will we go?—asked George

– My cousin Tom got me a factory job up in the north of England—said daddy—a place called Durham. We’ll be safer there.

And so, within two weeks, George and his parents moved out of London and went to Durham. 

One day, a couple of months after moving, George’s parents told him that London had been attacked with bombs, and together they prayed for the people of London. 

George asked his parents many questions about God those days, and his parents did their best to explain about sin, death and about heaven where there was no pain. They also thanked God every day for His provision and protection in giving them somewhere safe to live. 

One day, when George was 13, they heard wonderful news that the war was finally over. Though many people had died, and England went through poverty and destruction, George believed in God’s love. He knew that one day Jesus would return and banish all death, crying, and pain forever. 

The end.

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