Chapter 12

David became a strong warrior who won

every battle for Israel. Because he made the

people proud of their country, the people loved

David and wanted him to be their king. God

agreed. “David shall be the shepherd of my

people,” God said. David went from shepherding

sheep to shepherding people-what a difference!

King David ruled Israel for many years. He

was a good king, and most of the time he made

good decisions. But one time King David made a

bad choice. He fell in love with another man’s

wife!

Beautiful Bathsheba was already married to

Uriah. But King David loved Bathsheba so much

he could hardly think of anything else.

“I’ll get rid of Uriah and then Bathsheba can

be my wife,” David plotted. He made a plan for

Uriah to be killed in a battle, so he could be with

Bathsheba.

King David got what he wanted. Bathsheba

became his wife. King David was happy until his

friend Nathan told him that God was not pleased

with what he had done. It was wrong to kill Uriah

and take his wife.

David’s heart ached. It made him sad to know

he had disappointed God. This was a time of many

hardships in David’s life. He was a king. He had

riches, a beautiful palace, and a family. But more

than all of that, David wanted God’s love. He

asked God to forgive him.

Later, Nathan told David, “God has forgiven

you for the bad choice you made.”

David wrote a song about how much God

cared for him.

The Lord is my shepherd;

he is everything I need.

God shows me his beautiful creation

. He helps me see the goodness in the world.

God helps me be strong, in all times.

When I’m sad or worried,

my God comforts me.

He shows me how to live a life

that pleases him.

Even in bad times, I can be brave,

because God will never leave me.

God, your strength makes me

strong and calms me down.

You guard me day and night.

You bless me with your love.

I am sure that your goodness

and love will fill my heart, all my life,

and one day I will live

with you in heaven, forever.

In today's world, it's essential to include disclaimers in children's stories. Disclaimers help to clarify the purpose of the story and protect both the author and publisher from any legal liability. Disclaimers are an integral part of children's literature, and they can serve multiple purposes.

Firstly, disclaimers can help to manage reader expectations. A disclaimer can inform the reader about the type of content they are about to read. For instance, if a story contains mild language or a scene that may be scary for some children, a disclaimer can prepare the reader for what's to come. It can also help parents to decide if the content is appropriate for their child.

Secondly, disclaimers can help to protect the author and publisher from legal liability. In today's litigious society, it's essential to take steps to minimize legal risks. Disclaimers can help to clarify that the story is a work of fiction and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. It can also help to clarify that the author and publisher are not responsible for any actions taken by readers based on the content of the story.

In conclusion, including a disclaimer in children's stories is an essential practice for authors and publishers. It helps to manage reader expectations and protect against legal liability. As a parent, it's important to read the disclaimer before allowing your child to read the story and ensure that the content is appropriate for their age and maturity level.