The Dawn Of All

Chapter 2

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash."

Matthew 7:24-27

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Yumi and Kai were siblings who shared a close bond, though their personalities were quite different. Yumi was thoughtful and took her time before making decisions, while Kai was spontaneous and often rushed into things without much consideration. They both lived in a small coastal town, where most of the houses had to be built strong enough to withstand the unpredictable weather and fierce storms that could blow in from the sea.

One summer, they decided to take on a project together: building a beach hut just outside of town. It would be a place where they could relax, enjoy the ocean breeze, and escape from the demands of daily life.

As they stood on the sandy shore, imagining their future little hideaway, Yumi turned to her brother with a serious look. "Kai, if we're going to build this, we have to make sure it's solid. The storms here can be rough."

Kai waved her concern away. "Oh, Yumi, you're always so cautious. It'll be fine. We can start right here," he said, pointing to a flat stretch of sand. "Besides, look at the view from here! It's perfect."

Yumi frowned slightly. "But the sand isn't stable. We need to build on solid ground. Let's go a little further inland, where we can dig deeper and set a firm foundation."

Kai shook his head. "Yumi, that's way too much work! I don't want to spend weeks just building the foundation. I want to get this done so we can enjoy it right away."

Yumi sighed, sensing that her brother wasn't willing to compromise. She decided to build her hut the way she thought was best, while Kai chose his approach. They both set to work, each following their plan.

A week passed, and Kai's hut took shape quickly. He chose simple materials and didn't bother to dig deep or lay any reinforcements. His hut was small but charming, and he finished it in just a few days. He was proud of how fast he'd worked and invited Yumi to see it.

"Look, Yumi! Isn't it great? And it didn't take me forever, either!" Kai beamed as he showed her around his cozy but shaky hut.

Yumi looked around, feeling the floor shift slightly beneath her feet. She knew her brother had put in effort, but she couldn't shake her worries. "It's nice, Kai," she said honestly. "But what will happen when the next storm hits? This place is barely above the sand."

Kai shrugged. "Stop worrying so much! It'll be fine. I'm sure it'll hold up."

Meanwhile, Yumi continued to work on her hut, digging deep into the ground, laying solid stones, and using strong, weather-resistant wood for the walls. It took her much longer, but she knew it was worth the effort. After nearly a month of steady work, her hut stood strong and sturdy, ready to face any storm.

As summer turned to autumn, the winds grew stronger, and soon a heavy storm was predicted to hit the coast. The night before the storm, Yumi visited Kai at his hut, her face filled with concern.

"Kai, please come stay with me tonight," she pleaded. "The storm will be strong, and I don't think your hut is safe."

Kai laughed, trying to reassure her. "Yumi, you worry too much! I've spent plenty of nights here, and nothing's happened."