CBH Ministries- Keys for Kids: Adjustments


"Hi, Mr. Bill," said Alex as he walked across the lawn. His neighbor was watering pink and white impatiens in a flower box.

"Hi, yourself," replied the elderly man. "Have you gotten used to being back here in your father's old home town?"

Alex put his book bag down before he answered. "No," he said, "not really. I'm still praying every night that Dad will get transferred back to Oceanview. I miss swimming in the ocean and playing tennis every day."

"We do have swimming and tennis here, you know," said Mr. Bill as he began watering the plants in a large urn.

"I know. That's what Sam said-he's in my Sunday school class," replied Alex. "But he said the only place there is to swim around here is the city pool. I went with him one day, and it was so crowded, it was no fun at all! And Sam says it's nearly all girls who play tennis in this town. He says basketball or baseball are what most of the boys like to play. I never did get into those games very much."

"Sounds like you need to make an adjustment," observed Mr. Bill.

"I don't want to," Sam replied stubbornly.

"I didn't either," sympathized Mr. Bill. "Before I moved to this small house, I used to have a big garden. When I first moved here, I tried to grow the same flowers here on the north side of the house as I had grown in my big sunny garden. Most of them either died or grew spindly and didn't bloom."

"Your flowers look okay to me," said Alex, looking at the various flower boxes and urns.

"That's because I adjusted to the circumstances and planted flowers that bloom in the shade," explained Mr. Bill. He sat down on a patio chair. "I learned that God has more than one kind of beautiful flower."

"Are you saying that I should adjust to this town by taking up baseball and basketball?" asked Alex.

"You might like them-like I've learned to like impatiens and begonias," said Mr. Bill. "I think you should continue with your swimming and tennis, but it would be good to learn that God supplies other forms of enjoyable recreation, too."

Alex was thoughtful as he headed home.


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have to adjust to something a new-a Sunday school class, home, school, or family member? If you see only the bad things about your new situation, you'll miss out on the good things God has for you. Don't sit back and pout. Instead, ask God to help you find something good about the changes that have occurred in your life. Think about that good thing. Thank God for it. Enjoy it. Ask God to help you adjust and be content in whatever situation He has provided for you.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. Philippians 4:11