During recess, have you seen (or been) the kid picked last? In the classroom, do you see kids picking on the one they don’t think is cool? As much as you like kids your age, you also know that kids can be cruel. They choose words that hurt. Or they roll their eyes in such a way you’d almost rather they used words. Sometimes you might even be the one picking on kids, rolling your eyes, being super sarcastic, putting down a kid so another person will think you’re cool.
In Jesus’ family, though, kids are different. They treat each other differently. In his family, kids get to “speak out for the one who cannot speak” (Proverbs 31:8). In his family, you get to speak up.
With the Holy Spirit inside of you, you get up the courage to stand up for those who cannot seem to speak up for themselves because they are scared or hurt or embarrassed or shy. When you defend others, when you protect those who are getting picked on, you show what it means to be a true friend. You show them that what Jesus thinks about you is more important to you than staying quiet so you can be popular. You get to speak up and show that because Jesus loves everybody, you do too. You get to be their hero—and a hero for Jesus.
Chomp on this!
With your family, brainstorm some of the things you could say when you stand up for other kids. Or when you stand up for yourself.
