Only a Mist

Bible Reading: Mark 12:29-31; James 4:13-17

Jade stretched and yawned. Then she jumped down from her place on the top bunk and hurried to get dressed.

“Let’s go, troops!” yelled a cheery voice from outside. “We have many miles to cover on our morning hike.”

“How can Erica be so cheerful at seven o’clock in the morning?” asked Hayley, one of Jade’s cabinmates.

“I don’t know,” Jade answered, “but I like it. Her cheerfulness rubs off on me. Let’s go.”

Jade and Hayley joined the other campers as they gathered in front of the dining hall. “Good morning!” said Erica, their camp counselor. “Are you ready for our adventure? We’ll fix breakfast a little way down the trail.”

A few minutes later, they were off. “Stick right on the trail for a while,” Erica told the group. “There was a heavy mist last night, and everything seems damp. The grass is pretty wet, and your feet will be too if you walk on it for very long.”

“It’s not misty now,” said Hayley. “Isn’t it funny how mist just disappears?”

“Yeah—like a vapor,” said Jade. “I learned a verse at church that says life is a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

“That’s right,” said Erica. “When I was about your age, I learned that verse too. It tells us how short life is—like a mist. And what did the mist do while it was here?”

“It made things wet,” Hayley replied. “It soaked the grass so much that we don’t want to walk on it.”

Erica nodded. “Right. And in a way, we soak our environment too,” she said. “For example, do you know anyone who soaks you with joy?”

Jade spoke up quickly. “You do!” she said. “You always soak me with your cheerfulness, Erica. You make me feel happy.”

Erica was surprised. “Why, thank you!” she said. “But you know, the only reason I’m able to do that is because Jesus fills me with joy. Our lives may be short, but Jesus gives us the ability to soak others with His love. When we trust in Him, He fills our short lives with great purpose.” – Kathy A. Brand

How About You?

What do you soak those around you with? Our time on earth may be short, but with Jesus, you can make a big difference. When you trust in Him, He fills you with His love and joy so you can help draw others to Him. Even though life is short, trust Jesus to help you become more like Him so He can use your life for His great purpose.

Today’s Key Verse: Mark 12:31 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Today’s Key Thought:

Soak others with Jesus’ love