GOODNESS HAS BEEN DEFINED AS “VIRTUE EQUIPPED AT EVERY POINT.” -WILLIAM BARCLAY

Bible Reading of the Day: Read Romans 15:13-16.

Verse of the Day: “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Tyler watched as his grandfather carefully searched the living room.

“Are you looking for something, Papa?” he asked, using the family name for his grandfather. Papa answered that he couldn’t find the remote control for the television.

“I’ll find it for you,” Tyler answered. In a few moments, Tyler located the remote control and handed it proudly to his grandfather.

Sometime later, Tyler sat at the kitchen table, coloring, as his father prepared dinner. Dad spilled a few drops of milk on the floor, and Tyler jumped up from his seat, grabbed a paper towel, and announced, “I’ll wipe it up for you, Daddy.”

Later that evening, Tyler crawled onto his dad’s lap as his father was reading a thick book. He carefully removed his dad’s glasses.

“You look tired, Daddy,” he said. He rubbed his dad’s temples as he had seen his mother do.

Dad closed his eyes and submitted to Tyler’s efforts for a few moments, then opened his eyes.

“Tyler,” he said, “you are terrific.” Tyler beamed with pride and satisfaction.

“All day long, you’ve been so helpful and thoughtful and . . . and full of goodness.”

“I have?” Tyler said. He loved being praised by his dad.

“I hope you’ll be able to hold on to that goodness as you get older,” Dad said. “It’s a wonderful quality to have.”

Tyler rested his head on his dad’s chest.

Dad continued, “The Bible says that Jesus helps us to show goodness to others. Do you know what goodness means?”

Tyler didn’t answer. Dad shifted in his seat and looked at Tyler’s face. His son was asleep.

“I think you do,” Dad said, smiling. “It must be tiring to show so much goodness,” he said as he carefully stood and carried Tyler up to bed.

TO DO: Write a list of ways to show goodness to others. Then come up with a list of people to whom you can show goodness. Then discuss the William Barclay quote. Would you define goodness that way? Why?

TO PRAY: “Loving God and Father, please help us each to show your goodness to others.”