Read: James 3:5-10 Milo looked up as his little sister limped into the kitchen. “What’s wrong?” “I need new shoes!” Presley said. She lifted her right foot. “This one hurts me!” Milo smirked. “Because you don’t know how to put shoes on right. You probably have them on the wrong feet.” He laughed. “You’re such…
Read: Romans 8:35-37; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 Peter 4:12–14 Alisha ran inside the house. “There’s a butterfly outside!” she exclaimed. “I got a picture on my phone. Do you want to see it?” she asked Devin, her older sister. “Sure.” Devin inspected the photo. “That butterfly is beautiful,” she said as she cut into a…
Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3; Isaiah 41:10 As Emma and Chloe started home, they ran into Weston—a school bully. “Hey, Chloe, where’d you get this hat?” asked Weston as he grabbed the red cap from her head and tossed it down on the sidewalk. Chloe stared at him. “Stop that!” yelled Emma, darting toward the cap….
Bible Reading: Matthew 5:44-46 Roman stomped into the house and headed for the stairs, not even bothering to say hello to his family. “Hey there, Roman!” Dad called from his place at the counter. Roman mumbled something and then proceeded upstairs and slammed his bedroom door. The house shook. Eva, his sister, entered the house…
Bible Reading: Romans 12:18-21 James was quiet as the plane rolled down the runway. “Nervous?” asked Dad. “No,” said James. “Well, not about the flight. I was thinking about something you said. Are you sure everyone has luggage they carry in their lives? Even bullies?” Dad nodded. “Bullies often have the heaviest life luggage of…
Bible Reading: Psalm 141:3; Proverbs 8:6-9 “Hey, did you guys hear the one about the man with a wooden leg?” Mitch asked when some of his friends were over. He proceeded to tell a joke he’d overheard at school—a bad one he knew he shouldn’t repeat, but he wanted to impress his friends. They thought…
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-7; Zephaniah 3:17 “What’s wrong, sis?” Hudson asked his little sister, Clara, as she stumbled in the front door. Clara plopped down on the couch beside her brother. Leaning against him, Clara began to cry. “Tell me what’s going on,” Hudson said as he put down his chemistry books and wrapped…
Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:1-4, 8 “What’s wrong, Simon?” asked Micah as the boys walked home from school. “I don’t want to talk about it,” said Simon with a scowl. “You’ll just laugh.” “No, I won’t. We’re friends. Come on, Simon. Tell me what’s bothering you.” “Well…” Simon took a deep breath. “Some of the guys…
Bible Reading: Exodus 20:7; Philippians 2:5-11 Peggy sat on the porch step as tears trickled down her cheeks. “What’s the matter, honey?” Mom asked as she sat down beside her. “The Holden brothers started calling me names again. I was just walking past their house on my way to Jamie’s and they started saying, ‘There…
Bible Reading: Matthew 5:38-44; 26:47-53 “Do you know what I’m gonna do about Josh tomorrow?” Jacob told his friend Liam as they walked around the side of Jacob’s house. “I’m tired of that bully, and I’ve made up my mind to punch him if he bothers us!” As they came around a hedge of tall…
