Caught!

Proverbs 1:8 “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”

James looked across the field at the hundreds of chocolate brown cows. They looked so gentle and friendly, and he wanted to see one close up. He wondered if he could get close enough to touch one.

I wish we lived out here in the country, he thought. I never get to see cows in the city.

James climbed onto the wooden fence and let his legs dangle over the side. He could still hear Dad’s voice saying, “Don’t go over that fence, Son. There are bulls in there, and bulls aren’t very friendly.”

But Mom, Dad and Rebecca were inside the rented vacation cabin. They would never have to know . . .

Finally, curiosity got the better of him, and he hopped onto the fresh green grass. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears as he stepped slowly toward the nearest cow. She looked almost beautiful with her big brown eyes and shiny brown coat. He approached gently, not wanting to frighten her.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, something caught his attention. Looking to the left, James saw him . . . a big, fierce-looking bull. Two sharp horns curled out of his head, and steam appeared to be coming from his nostrils and ears as he pawed the ground with his left front hoof. He snorted angrily, and James didn’t wait to see what would happen next!

He just ran. He had never run so fast in all his life! Reaching the fence, he slid under it just as Mama opened the door to call him in for lunch.

Choices at Recess

Romans 12:9 “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

“Mom, why can’t I watch the same cartoons as my friends?” James asked.

“Well, I don’t know. Which cartoon did you want to watch?” Mom questioned.

James sat down on the kitchen stool and watched as his mother loaded the dishwasher. “Tommy watches Dark Force Rescue. All the guys watch it. And at recess, they like to pretend to be the Dark Force team.”

Mom laid the dish towel on the counter and sat down next to her son. “I don’t think I’ve heard of that show. Have I told you not to watch it?” she asked.

James rested his chin on his hands. “No. But I know you wouldn’t like it.”

“Why is that?” Mom asked.

“Because the guys have these eyes that glow red, and they call on evil powers to help them. Then, they use those powers to rescue people.”

“You’re right. I wouldn’t like it at all,” she said. “But it sounds like you’ve already watched the show.”

“Yeah. I watched it one day when I was at Tommy’s house.”

They both sat in silence for a moment. Finally, Mom asked, “Is it a show you really want to watch?”

James thought about his answer. “No. It kind of made me feel bad, watching it at Tommy’s. I don’t know why, but I didn’t like it.”

Mom nodded in understanding. “You didn’t like the show, but you also don’t like feeling left out.”

“Yep,” James replied. “I mean, Yes, ma’am.”

Mom propped her elbows on the counter and said, “That’s a tough spot to be in. What do you think you should do?”

James grinned. “I was hoping you would tell me what to do.”

Mom smiled. “Well, I can make rules for you. And you certainly know you won’t be allowed to watch that show. But there’s something even more important than whether or not you watch that show . . . and that’s whether or not you even want to watch the show.”

James shook his head. “No, I really don’t. I’d rather watch something where people get their powers from good things.”

Mom reached over and tousled his hair. “So what will you do at recess?”

James thought a minute. “Well, there is this one kid who doesn’t watch Dark Force Rescue, either. I guess I could play with him.”

Mom stood up and kissed her son on top of his head. “Son, you make me very proud,” she said. “Before you know it, all the kids will want to be playing your game, and they’ll have forgotten all about Dark Force Rescue.”

“Hey, maybe we can make a new team, and call it Light Force Rangers!”

Grandpa

John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”

“Becca, is Grandpa going to die?”

Rebecca looked at her little brother. She knew James was worried. She was, too. But she didn’t know what to say to him. Finally, she managed a smile. “We’re all going to die, James.”

James sat down next to her on the porch. His shoulders were down, and he looked like he was going to cry. “That’s not what I meant. Is he going to die soon?”

Rebecca put her arm around her little brother. “I don’t know. I hope not. I heard Mom say that the doctors are doing all they can do for his cancer. She also said that we have to trust God.”

“I don’t want Grandpa to die,” he said, and she watched fat teardrops roll down his cheeks and splash on the cement steps.

“I don’t want him to, either. But there’s nothing we can do. It’s in God’s hands.”

The two sat  in silence for a few minutes, each thinking about Grandpa, and how he always made life fun.

After a while, Rebecca sat up. “James, I was wrong.”

“What do you mean?” James asked.

“I said there is nothing we can do. But there is something we can do! We can pray. Mom and Dad always say that praying is the most important thing we can do in any situation.”

James nodded. “Okay. Let’s pray right now.”

Brother and sister bowed their heads. “Dear Jesus,” Rebecca prayed aloud. “Please make our Grandpa better. We aren’t finished with him here. Please help the doctors and nurses to know how to treat him. And help us to trust You, because we know You love Grandpa even more than we do. In Your precious name we pray, Amen.”

“Amen,” echoed James. Then, looking at his sister, he said, “I feel better already.”

“So do I,” Rebecca said, and gave her brother a tight hug.