Alexandra and Malik were running around in the same group in after-school daycare. After all they’re both in Mrs. Truthan’s preschool class, which is totally awesome. By the way, have you seen their cool t-shirts? I want to get one of those!
Well Malik was running around one of his preschool friends one-way, and Alexandra was running around the same girl the other way. BUMP! They smacked right into each other. Malik stood there kind of stunned; Alexandra went backwards and bumped her bottom.
Malik immediately tried to comfort Alexandra with a hug. By this point in the day Alexandra needed a big person, so I elected myself to pick her up and go for a walk. When she had cried out most of her shock from the bump and her exhaustion from the day, I walked her over to Malik. In his very kind voice Malik told Alexandra that he was sorry for the bump.
Guess what happened? Alexandra and Malik were ready to play together on the playground!
This got me to thinkin’ about how we all should act when things do not exactly go our way. You know – when people or the things of life “smack right into us,” how do we act? What comes out of you and me when we are “bumped?”
Well it’s always important to have a goal so you know where you’re goin’. Then you can figure out how to get there. What’s the goal when I’m bumped, you ask? The Apostle Paul wrote it down for us in the Bible. He said, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2-3).”
The goal is unity or, as we would say in preschool, to be able to be “kind to our friends.”
When anger or “playing get backs” come out of us when we’re “bumped,” we usually say or do things that keep us from the goal.
God has given us one another as a gift to make us more like Jesus. Maybe we should take a lesson from Malik and Alexandra.
If we “bump” or get “bumped”, 1) first, we should try to comfort one another through the tough time. Next, 2) we may need to have a good cry with a friend to let out the sadness. 3) Then it may be time to apologize and offer forgiveness. We do all this so we can get back to the serious business of playing on the playground together. Bigger people might say, “4) So we can live together in harmony.”
Let’s ask the Lord to help us: Dear Lord, we know that You died for us on the cross, so that we could not only be forgiven, but so that we could forgive one another. Help us remember that “bumping” is going to happen; but when it does, we can still be friends (have unity) through the kindness of Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Proud of you,
Pastor Wilson
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