The Boomerang Effect

Bible Reading: Psalm 103:12; Ephesians 4:31-32; 1 John 1:5-9

“It’s my turn for show-and-tell tomorrow,” said Natasha as she and her younger brother, Eric, cleared the dinner table. “I searched my room, but I don’t have anything interesting to bring.”

“Your seashells from the cottage are pretty,” said Mom. “They’re downstairs in a jar on top of the bookshelf.”

“I’ll get them,” offered Dad, rising from his seat.

“But everyone will think my seashells are boring after Marie’s presentation,” said Natasha. “She brought a boomerang from her trip to Australia!”

“What’s a boomerang?” asked Eric.

“It’s a hunting tool shaped like a V,” replied Natasha. “Now it’s mostly used for sport. It can turn around and come back to you after you throw it.”

“Cool!” exclaimed Eric.

Natasha rolled her eyes. “That’s what everyone said! Marie always has the coolest stuff. It’s not fair!”

Dad returned with the jar of shells. He opened it and spilled the delicate contents on the table.

“How can these seashells compete with Marie’s boomerang?” asked Natasha.

“Remember when you found this one?” asked Eric, lifting up a large, flat pink shell shaped like a fan. “You saw it sticking out of the sand when we were eating ice cream.”

“Oh yeah!” Natasha touched the shell’s ridges, smiling. “I caught my first fish that day too.”

“See? Your shells are tied to wonderful memories,” said Mom.

“Right. I’ll have lots to tell. I guess being jealous of Marie for having a boomerang was silly.”

“I’m glad you think so,” remarked Dad. “Jealously works the same way as Marie’s boomerang—it comes back and hurts you instead of sticking to the target.”

“But God’s forgiveness is like a boomerang too,” said Mom. “Jesus will always forgive you no matter how far away your sins may fling you. You can confess your sin and turn to Him to help you love others and do what’s right. You can come back to Him—like a boomerang returning to its owner.”

“I was wrong to get mad,” Natasha said. “From now on, I’ll remember the boomerang effect when I start to feel jealous and turn to Jesus for help and forgiveness.” -Elena Dee

How About You?

Are there times when you feel jealous of others? Or say mean things behind their backs? Or to their faces? We all do wrong things sometimes, and our sinful deeds can hurt us and make us feel like we’re far away from God. But Jesus died to save us from sin, and He’ll always forgive us. You can turn away from sin and back toward Jesus. Confess your sin to Him and trust Him to forgive you.

Today’s Key Verse:
Acts 3:19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Turn to Jesus