Love One Another

Keys for Kids Daily Devotional for December 7, 2007
TITLE: Not Sticky Enough
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
AUDIO: listen here
THE STORY FOR TODAY:
As Kip and his sister Maggie rode home after a shopping trip with their mother, they saw a couple of kids walking along, holding hands. "There go Mr. and Mrs. Glue," said Kip. "They're so . . . 'sticky' all the time."
"Mr. and Mrs. Glue?" asked Mom.
Maggie nodded. "That's what the kids call them because they're so stuck on each other," she said. "Yvonne thinks everything Clay says is so-o-o cute. And she's always running her fingers through his hair."
"Yuck!" responded Kip. Just then he spotted someone else. "Oh, and there goes Bud Jones," he added. "He thinks he knows all about everything."
"He's okay," replied Maggie. "You just don't like him because he's smarter than you."
"Nobody likes him," retorted Kip.
"Brenda does, and that makes you mad, because you like Brenda," taunted Maggie as Mom turned into their driveway. "I don't see why you do. She's a snob."
In the kitchen, Maggie pulled a big bottle of glue from a bag. "I really need this for my science project," she said. "Snobby Brenda used up half of my last bottle."
"She's not a snob," said Kip. "She's pretty, and you're just jealous."
Mom sighed. "I have no doubt that the couple we saw earlier is too 'sticky,' as you put it," she said, "but I get the feeling that the two of you are not sticky enough."
"What do you mean?" asked Maggie. "You don't want me running around holding hands with some guy, do you?"
Mom smiled. "No, I don't," she agreed, "but I still think both of you need a little more 'glue' in your lives." Maggie looked at the bottle she held in her hand. "Not that kind," continued Mom, "but tell me-what does glue do?"
"It holds things together," replied Kip.
Mom nodded. "And the best glue-the best thing for holding people together-is love. God says we're to love each other. Were you two displaying God's love when you talked about your classmates? Were you showing love by fighting with each other? Think about it!"
MEMORY VERSE: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you. John 13:34
HOW ABOUT YOU? Is there plenty of "glue"-plenty of love-shown in your life? God commands those who love Him to also love one another. His love should be displayed in your actions and in your words and thoughts. How about it? Are your words critical of others, or are they helpful? Are the things you do and say kind, or are they hateful. Obey God's command. Display His love in your life.
THE KEY: Love one another