AUGUST 9,  Luke 10:30-37

Su Ling squirmed uncomfortably as she sat in her usual place in Sunday school. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her class; she did. But the week before, the lesson had been about the man known as the Good Samaritan, and someone had suggested that each class member try to be like him by doing something special for someone else in the coming week. "Now I suppose everybody will be talking about what they did, and I have nothing to report," thought Su Ling.

Just like Su Ling expected, the kids were excited about what they had done. James was the first to bring it up. “On my way home from school, I saw an old man drop his newspaper on the sidewalk,” said James as they waited for the class to begin, “so I stopped and picked it up for him.”

“Cool,” responded Brenda. “Our neighbor is in the hospital,” she added. “She doesn’t have any relatives living in Singapore, so I went twice to see her.”

Mrs. Poh, the Sunday school teacher, nodded at both James and Brenda. “I’d say you certainly acted like good Samaritans last week, didn’t you?” she asked the class. Everyone agreed.

James turned to Su Ling. “Did you do something special?” he asked her. Su Ling shook her head, somewhat embarrassed. “I had to hurry home after school every day,” she replied. “My mom was sick all week.”

Mrs. Poh smiled sympathetically. “Oh, that’s too bad! Who took care of your little brother and made meals?” she asked. “I did,” Su Ling said. “I just made instant noodles and salads–easy things like that.”

Mrs. Poh nodded. “And did you stack the dishes in the sink to wait until your mother can do them?” she asked. Su Ling looked puzzled. “No,” she said. “I washed them. It didn’t take long.”

Mrs. Poh looked around. “All who agree that Su Ling was a good Samaritan,’ raise your hand.” Every hand was raised. “The things you did this week, Su Ling, were every bit as important and special as those done by the others,” Mrs. Poh told her. “You helped in the place that’s easiest to neglect–home. God is pleased when He sees you helping your family.”

Surprised, Su Ling felt a little smile on her lips.

Thought: Do you help out at home?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I learn well today’s lesson it should not be more fun to help a neighbor or a friend than to help at home! Teach me to start being a good Christian, starting from home! In Jesus’ holy name, amen.