Haley and the Parrot

Bible Reading: Joshua 1:1-9

Haley giggled as she listened to the parrot at the zoo. “Stop! Stop!” the bird squawked.

“Why does he do that?” Haley looked up at her grandpa. “Why is he telling us

to stop?”

“Parrots listen to what people say and copy it. They aren’t coming up with these things on their own—they’re reacting to the world around them.” Her grandpa’s eyes twinkled. “He’s probably heard parents yelling ‘Stop!’ at kids running through the zoo!”

After school the next day, Haley sank down at her grandpa’s kitchen table. “Everyone at school is scared,” she said with a sigh. “No one is any fun anymore.”

“No one?” her grandpa asked. “Are you sure?”

“Joe didn’t want to play at recess. He was too busy talking to Benji about everything that’s going on. Angel said she didn’t feel like playing. I went to find Megan, and she was talking with a teacher, looking worried.” Haley frowned. “Why does everyone have to be scared?”

“Do you remember the parrot at the zoo?” asked Grandpa. Haley nodded. “Parrots copy what they hear,” Grandpa said. “You say something around them once, and they will start saying it over and over.” Grandpa filled a glass with milk and set it in front of Haley. “People can be like that too, especially when it comes to fear. If one person is scared and they talk with another person, that person will likely get scared too. Pretty soon everyone is living in fear.”

“It’s awful when everyone is so scared,” said Haley.

“It is. Know why?” Grandpa lifted a bushy eyebrow. “Because Jesus didn’t call us to live in fear. He saved us from sin and death so we wouldn’t have to be afraid any longer. Even when everyone around us is afraid because of the scary things happening in the world, we need to trust Him.”

“So, we shouldn’t copy everyone else like parrots do?”

Grandpa shook his head. “Even when bad things happen, we have nothing to fear because we belong to Jesus. We can live with His peace in our hearts instead of being afraid—and we can share that peace with others too.”

Haley nodded. Even if everyone around her was giving in to fear, she was going to trust God. • Emily Acker

How About You?

Do you get scared when people around you are afraid? If you know Jesus, you don’t have to live in fear. He saved you and promises to be with you in scary times. Instead of parroting others’ reactions when something scary happens, pray and ask Him to fill you with His peace. Trust Him, and let others see His peace in your heart.

Today’s Key Verse:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Don’t let fear win