Good At Something
GOD COMMANDS US TO BE COMPASSIONATE.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read Ephesians 4:32-5:2.
Verse of the Day: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32, NIV).
Grant sat beside his baby sister, Nina, in the middle seat of the minivan and played with her as she sat in her car seat. About halfway home from his older sister and brother’s school concert, he started crying softly.
“What’s wrong, Grant?” Dad said, when he noticed his son’s tears in the rearview mirror.
Grant shook his head, not wanting to talk. But Mom turned around in her seat and urged him to tell her why he was crying.
“I’m not good at anything,” he said between sniffles. “Ellen plays the piano, and Todd plays the saxophone,” he said, pronouncing it “sassophone.” “But I’m not good at anything.”
“Oh, Grant,” Mom said. “That’s not true at all. Just because you haven’t started music lessons yet doesn’t mean you’re not good at anything.”
“Yes, it does,” Grant said. His lower lip projected out from his face in a pout.
“No, it doesn’t,” Mom answered. “In fact, I think you’re the best in the family at something.”
Grant’s sniffles quieted, and his lower lip returned to normal. “I am?” he asked.
Mom nodded. “You’re the best in the family at being compassionate.”
“What’s that mean?” Grant asked, his face expressing doubt. “Who can make little Nina stop crying better than anyone else?” Mom asked.
“I can,” he answered softly.
“And who cuddles in Mommy’s lap when a TV show or letter makes her cry?”
“I do!” Grant answered, his mood lightening.
“And,” Ellen added from the seat behind Grant and the baby, “who is always feeling sorry for stray animals and birds with broken wings?”
“Me!” Grant answered.
“That’s right,” Mom said. She pointed her finger at Grant’s chest. “You are a very compassionate young man. That’s something you’re very good at.”
“And that’s an important thing to be good at,” Dad added, “because God wants us all to be compassionate.”
“And I am!” Grant said. His tears and sniffles had disappeared, and he was smiling happily.
TO DISCUSS: Today’s Bible reading includes one of God’s many commands to be compassionate. What does it mean to be compassionate? Have you done anything compassionate today? If so, what? Did you do anything compassionate yesterday? If so, what? Do you think you can do anything compassionate tomorrow? If so, how?
TO PRAY: “Lord, help us to be good at showing compassion to others.”