Wally the Warthog and the Words That Turned Bitter
Children’s Day’s Journey
Memory Verse:
“Be ready to answer… with gentleness and respect.”
— 1 Peter 3:15
One sunny afternoon, Mahle the spotted lamb walked through the meadow with Joppa the Ostrich and Millo, the little bird.
The flowers waved gently.
The grass was soft under Mahle’s hooves.
And Millo chirped happily from Joppa’s shoulder.
Near the old fence stood Wally the Warthog.
Wally had strong little tusks, a round snout, and a very curious face. He was kind most of the time, but he had one little problem.
Wally loved to talk.
He loved telling stories.
He loved hearing stories.
And sometimes Wally repeated stories he did not need to.
“Did you hear?” Wally whispered as the others came near.
Mahle stopped. “Hear what?”
Wally looked left. Then he looked right. Then he leaned closer.
“I heard one of the lambs ran away from practice because he was scared,” Wally said. “And someone said he cried behind the berry bushes!”
Millo’s little eyes grew wide.
Joppa lowered her long neck and looked gently at Wally.
“Wally,” she said, “is that story yours to tell?”
Wally blinked. “Well… no. But everyone is talking about it.”
Mahle looked down at the grass. His heart felt heavy.
“I know what it feels like when others laugh and talk about you,” Mahle said softly. “It hurts.”
Wally’s ears drooped.
“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” he said. “I just thought it was a little story.”
Millo fluttered down to a fence post.
“Words can feel sweet at first,” Millo said. “Like little chocolate morsels.”
Wally perked up. “I Love chocolate morsels!”
“But,” Millo continued, “if those words hurt someone’s name or heart, they turn bitter.”
Wally made a face. “Bitter chocolate?”
Joppa nodded. “Very bitter.”
Mahle stepped closer to Wally.
“When someone talks about us while we are not there,” Mahle said, “it can make us feel small. It can make us feel unseen. It can make us want to hide.”
Wally looked ashamed.
“I don’t want my words to make someone hide,” he said.
Joppa smiled kindly. “Then this is a good day to learn wisdom.”
Just then, the Lion came walking through the meadow. His mane shone softly in the afternoon light, and His eyes were full of kindness.
Wally looked at Him. “Lion, I think I used my words the wrong way.”
The Lion sat beside them.
“Words are powerful,” the Lion said gently. “They can build up, or they can tear down. They can protect, or they can harm. A wise heart learns when to speak and when to be silent.”
Wally swallowed.
“What should I do when everyone else is talking?” he asked.
The Lion answered, “You can pause. You can ask, ‘Will these words help or hurt?’ You can walk away from gossip. You can speak kindly. And if you have hurt someone with your words, you can ask forgiveness.”
Wally nodded slowly.
Then he looked at Mahle.
“I’m sorry, Mahle,” Wally said. “I don’t want to talk about others in a way that would hurt them. Will you help me learn to use kind words?”
Mahle smiled softly. “Yes, Wally. We can learn together.”
Millo chirped, “And I can help too!”
Joppa lifted her head. “Me too. We can be friends who speak life.”
Wally took a deep breath.
From that day on, when Wally heard gossip, he tried to remember:
Is this kind?
Is this true?
Is this mine to tell?
Would I say this if that friend were standing here?
And when the words were not good, Wally shut his mouth, turned his feet, and walked toward wisdom.
Because Wally was learning that Jesus is Lord over the heart…
and Lord over the tongue too.
Little Lesson
Gossip can sound exciting, but it can hurt someone’s heart.
Before we speak, we can ask:
Is it kind?
Is it true?
Is it helpful?
Is it mine to tell?
Sometimes the wisest words are no words at all.
Reflection Question
Have you ever heard others speak unkindly about someone?
What could you do next time?
Prayer of Repentance and Kind Words
Dear Jesus,
Please forgive me for the times I have spoken carelessly.
Forgive me for gossiping, laughing at someone’s pain, or repeating stories that were not mine to tell.
Help me use my words with gentleness and respect. Help me know when to speak and when to be quiet. Help me walk away from conversations that hurt others.
Make my words kind.
Make my heart gentle.
Make my feet brave enough to walk away from gossip.
Thank You for loving me and teaching me wisdom.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.