Just the Shell

"Look, Dad! There's a big one!" Wyatt pointed to a large shell that was sticking up out of

the sand.

Dad walked over to look at Wyatt's find. It was spiraled and had an opening underneath.

"Be careful, Dad!" said Wyatt. "I've seen pictures of that kind of shell. I think hermit crabs live inside them. If there's one in there, it might snap at you!"

Dad picked up the shell. "This will never hurt anyone," he said. "It's empty. See--there's nothing inside it. It's just a shell." He held it up and turned it over so Wyatt could see what it looked like. "There probably used to be a crab inside, but there comes a time in the crab's life when he squeezes out and leaves his shell and finds a bigger one to live in."

Wyatt took the shell from his dad and examined it. "So the crab that lived in this shell has a new home now? Wouldn't it be cool if people could do that?"

Dad laughed. "Well, in a way, they do. Remember how we talked about Grandpa going to heaven to be with Jesus when he died?"