Who Does It Hurt? (Part 2)

Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12-15

"You brought my favorite board game!" exclaimed Hattie and Cleo's uncle when they came to visit him in the hospital. The girls happily set it up, and they were playing when a man entered the room. "Hi, Kyle," said Uncle Dale cheerfully. "Hattie, Cleo--meet Kyle Turner." The girls smiled and waved. "Kyle comes to see me every day and we read the Bible together," Uncle Dale explained.

"Don't let me interrupt you," said Kyle. "I have some errands to run. I'll come back in a little while."

"That's fine," said Uncle Dale. "Don't forget!"

"No chance!" Kyle called on his way out.

The girls were silent for a moment. "Kyle Turner," murmured Hattie. She frowned. "I know that name! He's the man who caused your accident, isn't he?" She looked at her uncle. "Why are you friends with him? It's his fault you can't walk!"

"I was really angry right after the accident," admitted Uncle Dale. "Then I read Colossians 3:13 during my devotions one day." He picked up his Bible from the bedside table. "Here, Cleo. Will you find that verse in my Bible?"

Cleo quickly found the verse. "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

"Not too long after I read that verse, Kyle came to my room," said Uncle Dale. "I sure had a grievance against him! But he asked me to forgive him." Uncle Dale cleared his throat. "God helped me do that and used the accident to help both Kyle and me grow in our relationship with Jesus," he said quietly.

Hattie had tears in her eyes. "I just don't think I can forgive Kyle," she said. "Is there something wrong with me, Uncle Dale?"

"Nothing that God can't cure," her uncle assured her. "You love me and don't like to see me hurt--that's natural. Forgiving isn't always easy, but we can depend on Jesus for help. He forgave us for all our sins, and He gives us the power to forgive others, even when it's hard." Uncle Dale smiled. "I know--why don't you girls stay for my Bible study with Kyle? I'd like you to get to know him better."

The girls glanced at each other. "Well…okay," said Hattie, and Cleo nodded.

–Alyssa Liljequis

How About You?
Has someone hurt you so badly that you feel like you can't forgive them?* Remember that you've done wrong things too, but if you trust Jesus as your Savior, He's forgiven you even though you don't deserve it. Show others the forgiveness that comes from Jesus by forgiving them when they hurt you. *If you're struggling with the hurt someone has caused you, talk to a trusted adult.
Today's Key Verse:
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV) (Colossians 3:13)
Today's Key Thought:
Forgive others as Christ forgave you