In Safe Keeping

Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:5-6

“I’ll pick you up after school and take you to see Grandpa at the hospital,” Mom told Jaxon and Elexa as they put on their coats.

Jaxon tried to swallow the lump in his throat. “Is…is he going to die?”

Mom took a deep breath. “I don’t know, Jaxon. But whatever happens, Grandpa is in God’s hands, and Jesus will take care of him.”

“But how can taking care of Grandpa mean letting him die?” asked Elexa.

“I know it’s hard to understand, but that’s because we’re looking at it from our point of view,” said Mom. “Jesus may choose to take Grandpa to be with Him in heaven, and even if we don’t understand why He’d take Grandpa away from us, we can be thankful that Grandpa knows Jesus and would be so happy to see Him.” The kids nodded, but neither was entirely convinced.

On the way to school, Elexa handed Jaxon some money. “Will you keep this for me, Jaxon? I want to buy Grandpa a “Get well soon” balloon before we go to the hospital, but I don’t have a good place to keep my money.”

“Okay,” Jaxon said, and he stuffed the money into his pocket.

After school, the kids climbed into Mom’s car. “Is Grandpa any better?” Jaxon asked.

Mom shook her head. “He’s about the same.”

“Where’s my money, Jaxon?” Elexa held out her hand as Mom parked in front of the store. Jaxon pulled the money out of his pocket and gave it to her. She smiled. “My friend Nicole brought money to school this morning, but this afternoon she couldn’t find it. She thinks she lost it on the playground. Thanks for taking care of my money for me.”

As Elexa paid for her balloon, Mom turned to Jaxon. “You were able to take care of Elexa’s money better than she was. Just like Elexa trusted you, we can trust Jesus. Even if things don’t turn out the way we’d like, we know Grandpa is in God’s care because he belongs to Jesus—and He’ll take care of us too.”

Elexa came up to them and handed Jaxon a quarter. “Can you keep this for me, Jaxon? I might lose it.”

Jaxon nodded and placed the quarter in his pocket where it would be kept safe.

-Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?

Who do you trust? Do you trust parents and grandparents to take care of you? Do you trust brothers or sisters with things that belong to you? How about Jesus? If you’ve trusted Him to save you and give you eternal life, you can trust Him with everything. He promises to take care of you, even when He allows things to happen that you don’t understand. The safest place to be—both for you and those you love—is in His care.

Today’s Key Verse: 2 Timothy 1:12 I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Trust God in everything