CBH Ministries- Keys for Kids: Smiles


Ellen was pouting when she and her mother returned home from shopping one day. "What's the matter, sourface?" teased her brother Jake.

Ellen scowled. "Mom gets you everything you want, but she wouldn't buy a thing for me," she grumbled. "All I wanted was a 'smile' shirt."

Jake howled with laughter. "A smile shirt on you?" he asked. "That would be a joke! Those things aren't very popular anyway. And I heard you talking with Mom yesterday." Using a high-pitched tone, he imitated her. "Mo-o-om! I want something cool!" He smirked, and his sister hit him. "Ow!" he yelled, hitting back.

Dad walked in the room as the kids continued hitting each other. "Break it up," he said. "The place I'd like to see a smile is on your faces for a change."

The next Sunday, Jake and Ellen got ready to go to church. They went regularly with their next-door neighbors. Both Jake and Ellen had accepted Jesus as Savior, but their parents were not Christians. "Why don't you come to church with us today?" Jake asked them hopefully.

"Count me out!" exclaimed Dad. "You two fight constantly. If that's all the good your religion does you, I want nothing to do with it." Jake and Ellen didn't know what to say.

"We've got to quit fighting," Ellen told Jake later. "If we don't, Mom and Dad will never listen when we try to tell them how to be saved." 

Jake nodded thoughtfully. "I know. The Bible says we're supposed to be different now. We've got to do better." So they asked Jesus to help them, and they did do better.

Soon their parents noticed the difference. For example, when a vase was broken several weeks later, both Ellen and Jake admitted responsibility for being careless as they played. Dad was amazed. "They're not blaming each other!" he exclaimed. "I never thought I'd see the day!"

The next Sunday, Dad surprised them all. "I don't suppose your mother and I are too old for church, are we?" he asked.

"You mean . . . you'll go?" asked Jake.

"If your mother would like to," Dad replied, and Mom nodded. Jake and Ellen cheered. Dad laughed. "Look!" he said. "That brought smiles to their faces!"


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do your actions and attitudes show that you're a Christian-a "new creation"? Satan constantly tries to get you to say cruel things to your friends and family. He tries to get you to be selfish and do only things that you want. Let others see that you no longer let Satan have his way in your life. Each day ask Jesus to help you be cheerful and pleasant to those around you. Ask Him to show you ways to be helpful and kind. God will bless you for your actions.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17