Daily Devotional for September 9, 2017
Lemonade, Anyone?
Aiden tried to stay out of the movers’ way as they carried furniture into the apartment, so he stood in the corner and frowned. “Why the long face?” asked one of the men who was helping.
“I don’t like this apartment,” said Aiden. “I don’t get my own backyard.” He didn’t add that he didn’t know anybody in the neighborhood and would have to go to a new school.
The man nodded. “Well, you know what they say—when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”
“Lemonade?” asked Aiden.
The man smiled. “You know, make the best of whatever happens. It may seem like a sour lemon, but it can turn into something sweet. You’ll see.”
Aiden sighed. He sounds like Mom, he thought. She’s always saying God works things out for good.
Aiden went outside and noticed a boy sitting on the steps. “Hi,” Aiden said, and the boy glanced up. He looked like he had been crying. “What’s wrong?” Aiden asked.
“I don’t like it here,” the boy replied. He had a strong, musical accent. “Things were bad in my country and we had to leave. But everything is so different here, and I have trouble speaking English. The kids at school laugh when I talk.”
Aiden sat down on the step beside his new neighbor. “I haven’t moved as far as you, but I’m new here too. I have to start school on Monday, and I don’t know anyone. I don’t think I’m going to like it.”
The boy looked at Aiden. “I can show you around school and eat lunch with you,” he said.
“Really?” Aiden smiled. “And I can help you with English and anything else you have questions about.”
A smile spread across the boy’s face. “Want to play ball?” he asked, pulling up a soccer ball from the side of the step.
As they kicked the ball around, Aiden thought his new home might not be so bad after all. Maybe Mom and the moving guy are right, he thought. Maybe God is making lemonade out of the lemons I got—and the ones my new neighbor got too. At least both of us now have a new friend—and maybe God wants me to show him that he can have Jesus as a friend too. – Matilda H. Nordtvedt
How about you?
Is there a lemon in your life—something that’s hard for you? Are you whining and complaining about it, or are you trusting God to use it to make lemonade? God isn’t allowing that circumstance into your life in order to hurt you. Trust Him to use it for good and ask Him to help you accept it and use it to show others His love.
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