Daily Devotional for December 12, 2020
Cry Baby
“I.can’t believe Caleb’s actually crying!” Gavin said in disgust. “Why does he have to be such a baby?” He picked up one of the Christmas cookies he had just finished decorating and took a bite.
“Caleb’s best friend just moved to another state. They’ve been friends since kindergarten. They played on the same teams and did almost everything together,” Mom said as she put another batch of cookies in the oven. “Caleb is your brother. You should have more sympathy for him.”
“He’s also a ten-year-old boy who should not be crying like a girl,” Gavin said as he poured himself a glass of milk. “I know he’s bummed about it, but boys shouldn’t cry.”
“Gavin, who do you always say is your favorite Bible character?” asked Mom.
“David, of course! He was a brave and mighty warrior-king!” Gavin pounded his right fist over his heart.
Mom picked up her phone and looked up a Bible passage. “Please read First Samuel 20:41 to me,” she said, smiling. “It’s about David moving away from his best friend.”
Gavin took the phone and read it aloud. “After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.”
“If you keep reading in Samuel, you’ll find other instances when your mighty warrior-king David cried. And he cried openly and without shame—and he’s not the only one. Jesus cried too when His friend Lazarus died, even though He was about to bring the dead man back to life.” Mom slid another tray of cookies into the oven. “God gave us our emotions, Gavin. It’s not wrong to cry—it’s how we process the way we feel when we’re hurting. Jesus promises to be with us in our sorrow, and you can let your brother know you’re there for him too.”
Gavin sighed and stood up. “Hand me two more of those cookies, please.”
“I think you’ve had enough,” Mom said.
“They’re not for me. I thought I’d take them upstairs to Caleb.”
Smiling, Mom nodded and gave him three cookies—two for Caleb and another for himself. • Sally Matheny
How about you?
Do you get upset when someone cries? God created us to have emotions, and crying is a healthy way to release those emotions. You can read in the Bible about many people who wept, including Jesus (John 11:35). God loves His children and cares when they are hurting. Ask God to help you show compassion when others are sad and to help you feel better about sharing your own emotions.
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