A New Beginning
A NEW BEGINNING
Read Lamentations 3:18-26.
Nathan hadn’t been very happy lately. His father’s company had moved the family from the Midwest to the South, and Nathan missed his friends. He felt it was no use to even try to be happy here.
One day the family took a trip to the beach. They all went swimming, but Nathan wouldn’t admit it was fun. Later the family hunted for shells. Nathan found a starfish, but two of its arms were broken off. He was about to throw it away when Dad said, “Let me see it.” Nathan handed the starfish to him, and Dad turned it over. “See the little moving feet?”
“You mean it’s alive?” Nathan asked. Dad nodded. “But it’s gonna die,” continued Nathan. “It has only three arms instead of five.”
Dad said, “Starfish can regenerate.”
“What does that mean?”
“In time the starfish will grow new arms to replace the old ones,” Dad explained.
“And I thought it was useless,” Nathan said.
“Nathan, right now you’re something like that starfish. You’ve been cut off from your old friends and you’re hurting. It’s scary to begin again, but with God’s help you can make new friends,” said Dad.
Nathan looked at the starfish and smiled. “If he can begin again, I guess I can too.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you accept new situations as a challenge to learn and grow? Or do you just feel sad and refuse to try again? Perhaps someone special to you has died, a friend has moved away, or you have a new mom or dad, and things seem so uncertain for you. Ask God for strength to accept your new situation. Then look for ways you can reach out and be friendly to those around you.
TO MEMORIZE:
The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
Lamentations 3:22-23
ACCEPT NEW SITUATIONS.
From the book
