Surprise Party
SURPRISE PARTY
Read 1 John 4:7-12.
“What’s Beth’s problem?” asked Matt as his sister left. “She was acting awful gloomy.”
“This is the day her friends leave for camp,” sighed Mom. “Beth can’t afford to quit her job—but she loves camp so much!”
“We should do something special for her so she won’t be so mopey. I know. Let’s have a surprise family party.”
“All right,” said Mom. “I’ll fix her favorite dinner, and you can decorate the dining room.”
“What about presents?” asked Matt.
Mom thought for a minute. “Why don’t we make ‘love coupons’? I’ll make one with a promise to make her bed and clean up her room every day this week. Then she can sleep later. You could wash the dishes when it’s her turn,” suggested Mother.
Matt groaned. “We want her to feel better, but there’s a limit!”
His mother laughed and gave him a quick hug. “This is a great idea, Son. God says we should show love to one another, and you’re doing that.”
When Beth came in from work, she saw a big banner on the dining room wall—“We love you, Beth.” The table was set with the best china, and there were streamers and balloons everywhere.
After dinner Beth looked at her family. “I love all of you,” she said. Looking at the dishes, she winked at Matt. “Especially you, little brother. I hope you don’t get dishpan hands!”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does someone in your family need a pick-me-up? As you remember all that God did to show His great love for you, will you, in turn, go out of your way to show love to that person? Maybe you can plan a party, do more than your share of the chores, or help in some special way. You’ll be surprised to find how much it will lift everyone’s spirits.
TO MEMORIZE:
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.
1 John 4:11
SHOW LOVE WITH ACTIONS.
From the book
