A Lesson From Tiger

Read: Acts 9:26-31

That’s enough TV for today, Simon,” Grandma said, turning it off. “Don’t you have homework to do?” Simon shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, Grandma.” He reached down and scooped up Tiger, the stray cat Grandma had rescued. “Even if I do it, Mrs. Stevens still won’t like me.”

“I thought you enjoyed her class. What happened?” Grandma asked.

“I do like it. But I forgot to do my homework a few times, and now she always asks me if I’ve done it.”

“That doesn’t mean she doesn’t like you, Simon,” Grandma said. “She cares about you and wants to help you be responsible and do your work.”

“But she won’t let me go to the puzzle corner during study hall unless my homework’s done. And if I tell her it’s done, she doesn’t believe me! She makes me show her my work.” Simon stroked the fur on Tiger’s back, making him purr. “She doesn’t make anyone else do that.”

“I see,” said Grandma. “Simon, do you remember when I first got Tiger?”

Simon remembered how skinny Tiger had been. His striped fur was dirty, and one ear was torn. “Tiger hissed and scratched at anyone who came near him,” said Simon.

Grandma nodded. “Tiger had been mistreated. It was hard for him to trust people again. I spoke gently to him and offered him his favorite foods for many days. Then one morning Tiger stepped away from his dish and brushed against my legs. More time went by before he trusted me enough to let me pet him.”

“But he’s okay now,” Simon said as he gently petted the purring cat. “I guess he figured out we’re not going to hurt him.”

“Sometimes when we make mistakes, it takes people a while to trust us again, just like Tiger,” Grandma said. “But that doesn’t mean we should give up. Jesus always forgives our wrongs and gives us the strength to do what’s right. He’ll help us show others we can be trusted again. But it can take time.”

“You mean, if I continue to do my homework, eventually Mrs. Stevens won’t need to remind me anymore?”

“Not only that, Simon,” said Grandma. “You’ll also show her—and yourself—that because of Jesus, you have the power to change.”

–Heidi J. Schmidt

How about you? Have you lost someone’s trust because of a mistake you made? Have you felt like giving up showing you’ve changed? Remember that God works through people who make mistakes. The apostle Paul made some big mistakes before Jesus saved him. Depend on Jesus for the strength to do what is right, and ask Him to help others notice the change.

Today's Key Verse: If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. (NLT) Luke 16:10

Today's Key Thought: Trust takes time