Dear Parents,
   This week we will be learning about a beautiful, young girl who became a queen.
Read the book of Esther to see how this brave, young girl saved her people.
   Encourage your child by discussing how God has used young people to do important
tasks.  Also, remember that while  people look on the outside; God looks inside and knows
our hearts.

                                                                  Esther

 * Esther was a Jewish girl who had been taken captive.  After her parents died, she was adopted
    by a family member, Mordecai who raised her as his own daughter.

 * King Xerxes was looking for a new queen.  Many young women were considered, but after a
    year of beauty treatments, Esther was chosen to be the new queen.

 * Haman was the most powerful man in the kingdom besides the king.  He was an evil man who
    hated the Jewish people and plotted to have them killed.

 * Mordecai persuaded Esther to go to the king and plead for the lives of the Jewish people.
    She could be killed for going before him when she hadn't been called.  But she was brave
    and went to see the king.  She invited him and the evil man, Haman, to a banquet.  During
    the meal, she revealed the plot against the Jews and accused Haman.  Haman was hanged
    on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, and the Jews were allowed to defend
    themselves.  Mordecai was honored.

 * Since that time Jews have remembered Esther and celebrated the Feast of Purim.

  You can read this very interesting story of Esther in the book of Esther chapters 1-10.
 
Memory verse:

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

                                            Proverbs 31:30

You can listen to the story of Queen Esther at:  http://gardenofpraise.com/bibl21s.htm