MAY 7, Galatians 6:9

“I’ll never invite John to Sunday school again!” Kevin shouted as he slammed the door behind him. “He’s so mean-and he thinks he’s so smart!” Kevin wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and choked down a sob. “When I invited him, he laughed at me and said I’m childish to go to Sunday school every week. He told the other kids I have to go because I’m just a baby.”

Mom sighed. “I’m sure John doesn’t realise…” She was interrupted by a sharp howl of pain.

“That’s Mitsy,” Kevin cried. He found his puppy crouched on the ground, her paw pricked with a nail. Every time she moved, the nail jabbed her flesh. “Oh, poor baby,” Kevin crooned as he knelt beside her. He reached for the trapped paw. “Gr-r-r-r!” growled Mitsy, baring her teeth. Kevin drew back in surprise. “Mitsy! Why are you growling at me? I only want to help you.”

The puppy again growled angrily as Mom knelt beside them and reached for the paw. “Hold her head, Kevin, and talk to her gently,” said Mom. “I’ll see if I can help.”

As Kevin talked softly and patted the whining puppy, his mother carefully freed the paw and examined it. “There’s a little cut here,” she said, “but she’ll soon forget it.” As Mitsy’s wet tongue reached for Mom, she laughed and drew back. “I guess she’s thanking me, but I can do without dog kisses.” She patted Mitsy’s head. “Kevin, what if we had walked off and left Mitsy when she growled at us?” Mom asked.

Kevin blinked. “We’d never do that!” he exclaimed. “Mitsy didn’t mean anything when she growled at us. She just didn’t realise we were trying to help her. She was scared and hurt.”

“Mitsy reminds me of John,” Mom said gently. “When he laughs at you for inviting him to Sunday school, he doesn’t realise what he’s doing either. Don’t stop trying to help him just because he snapped at you.”

“Yip! Yip!” agreed Mitsy as she ran around their feet.

Kevin grinned at the puppy. “She’s still saying thank you,” he said. “Who knows, someday, maybe John will thank me for trying to help him too.”

Thought: Have kids “growled” at you when you invited them to Sunday school?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for today’s lesson. Sometimes classmates may laugh at me and try to make me feel foolish in front of others. And frankly, I am tempted to stop inviting them, praying for them, or telling them about Jesus. Help me not give in to that temptation. Teach me to be a faithful witness for Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.