The Kid Who Chose Kindness

Read

Matthew 5:44 "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

Think

Imagine a kid named Sam. Every day on the bus, an older kid made fun of Sam's shoes. Sam felt embarrassed and small. His stomach hurt every morning before the bus even came.

Sam did the smart thing first. He told his mom what was happening, and his mom talked to the school. That was brave, and it was the right thing to do. Remember, telling a grownup is never tattling when someone is being hurt. It is getting help.

But something else happened in Sam's heart. Instead of hating that older kid, Sam started to pray for him. It was hard at first. He did not feel like praying for someone so mean. But he did it anyway.

And slowly, Sam noticed something. He stopped being so scared. The mean words still stung, but they did not crush him anymore, because Sam knew who he was. He was loved by God. No mean kid could take that away.

One day, Sam even found out why the older kid was so angry. Things were really hard at that kid's house. He was hurting, and hurting people sometimes hurt others. Sam felt something surprising. He felt a little bit sorry for him.

This is a made up story, but it shows something real that Jesus taught. When you pray for someone who is mean, God does two things. He works on their heart, and he protects yours. He keeps their meanness from turning you mean.

Loving your enemies does not mean pretending everything is fine or letting people hurt you. Sam still got help. But it means you refuse to let hate live in your heart. You hand the whole mess to God and let him carry it.

You are not powerless against a bully. You have grownups who can help, and you have a God who is bigger than any mean kid. And you have a choice. You can always choose kindness, even when it is hard.

Apply

Guard your heart – If someone has been mean to you, pray for them today, and tell a grownup if you have not yet. Ask God to keep your heart kind and to remind you how loved you are.

Pray

God, when people are mean to me, help me not to become mean too. Protect my heart and remind me that I am loved by you. Help me be brave enough to get help and kind enough to pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.