Taught by a Turtle
Child: Hey, don't go away. It's time to read Keys for Kids.
Uncle Charlie: Hi there. I'm your friend Uncle Charlie, and I'll be ready to read you our story today called Taught by a Turtle. And our scripture reading will come from 2 Corinthians, chapter 12. But first, let's hear a little bit of music. All right, you ready? Listen.
Child: While after mile he cares for me Mile after mile he shares with me My Redeemer, Savior, King it's of him I always sing as Mile after mile he cares for me Mile after mile he shares with me I'll adore him Praise and serve him trembling Mile after mile to heaven.
Uncle Charlie: Second Corinthians 12.
And we're reading starting in the middle of the seventh verse. Paul says, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure for this thing I asked the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee, for for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Remember our story today. It's called Taught by a Turtle. James looked down at the biggest turtle he had ever seen. His family had moved to a new home way out in the country. And now here was a huge turtle walking around the rocks and brush right in their very own backyard. James bent down and tried to get the turtle to eat some food he had brought for it. But instead of eating, the turtle turned slowly and headed for the woods. Both James and his father tried to stand in the way so the turtle wouldn't leave. But the big turtle only went in another direction, away from the food his friends had brought. Why won't he take it? James asked, looking at his father.
He must have thought we would hurt him, dad replied. I guess he just misunderstood our actions. Well, that's dumb. Anybody could see we were giving him food. A smile began to appear on Dad's face. You know what this reminds me of? Christians. Christians, James retorted. How? Well, sometimes when God's trying to help us by leading us in a certain direction, we misunderstand and insist on following the path we've laid out for ourselves. Other times we grumble about the things that God allows in our lives.
James had to agree that he didn't always understand how God led people. He thought of the time Aunt Jennifer got sick. When he asked her why God would treat a good missionary that way. She told him that God was teaching her some lessons she might not have learned if she had not been sick in bed. When you're flat on your back, she had told James. There's only one direction to look, and that's up. God knew I had been so busy working for him that I needed some time just to listen to him. James watched as the turtle disappeared into the wooded area near the swamp. Come again? He called. And thanks for the lesson.
How about you? You know, when things don't go the way you want them to, do you get angry or irritable? Do you question God's judgment? Maybe he's trying to teach you a lesson you haven't been willing to learn before.
Listen, when God uses your parents, your teachers, or even some trying experience to get you to obey will for your life, our key phrase today from the Bible is Isaiah 55. 9 My ways are higher than your ways. And our key for today is learn God's lessons. Well, that's it for today's Keys for Kids. I hope that you've been enjoying these times in our Keys for Kids Daily Devotional. And don't forget, if you'd like to have a book full of stories just like what I read, you write to me. Keys for Kids, PO Box 1001, Grand Rapids, Michigan the zip 49508.