Joshua and the Best Bench in the Meadow
Children’s Day’s Journey
Memory Verse:
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
— Proverbs 29:25
One sunny afternoon, Joppa the Ostrich walked through the meadow with Millo, the little bird, sitting on her shoulder.
Mahle the spotted lamb skipped beside them.
Hippii the Hippo splashed softly near the pond.
Wally the Warthog carried a basket of apples to share.
And Rafi-Owl watched wisely from a nearby tree.
It was lunchtime in the meadow.
Everyone gathered near the picnic tables with sandwiches, fruit, and little cups of water. The flowers danced in the breeze, and the sun made the grass shine like gold.
But near the edge of the meadow, Joshua stood quietly with his lunch tray.
Joshua was a gentle young friend who noticed things others sometimes missed. Loud noises could feel too big. Fast jokes could be hard to understand. Sometimes he needed extra time to join a conversation. But God’s Love reminded him he was special and safe, even when others were unkind.
But Joshua had a kind heart.
He wanted to sit with someone.
He wanted to belong.
He wanted to be included.
So Joshua walked carefully toward a picnic table.
“May I sit here?” he asked softly.
A few meadow bullies looked at him and laughed.
“Why do you talk like that?” one teased.
Another giggled. “Go sit somewhere else.”
Joshua froze.
His face felt warm.
His heart felt small.
His lunch tray felt heavy in his hands.
He turned away and walked to a bench near the fence. Then he sat down all alone.
Joppa saw what happened.
Her eyes grew sad.
Mahle lowered his ears. “That was not kind.”
Hippii sank a little lower in the pond. “Words can hurt deeply.”
Wally hugged his apple basket. “Joshua should not have to sit alone.”
Millo flapped his little wings. “Then let’s go to him!”
So Joppa, Millo, Mahle, Hippii, Wally, and Rafi-Owl went over to Joshua’s bench.
Joppa lowered her long neck gently.
“Joshua,” she said, “may we sit with you?”
Joshua looked up, surprised.
“With me?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Mahle. “This bench looks peaceful.”
Hippii smiled. “And I like peaceful places.”
Wally held out his basket. “I brought apples. You can have the shiny red one.”
Millo chirped, “And I can sit right here and keep you company!”
Joshua looked down at his lunch tray.
“They laughed at me,” he whispered.
Joppa’s eyes softened.
“I saw,” she said. “And it was wrong.”
Mahle stepped closer. “Being treated badly does not mean something is wrong with you.”
Rafi-Owl nodded. “It means someone else made an unkind choice.”
Joshua’s eyes filled with tears.
“I just wanted to be included.”
Wally sat beside him. “Then you are included with us.”
Hippii nodded. “You do not have to sit alone.”
Millo chirped gently, “You are seen. You are loved. You matter.”
Joshua took a slow breath.
The meadow was still noisy.
The bullies were still nearby.
But Joshua did not feel quite as alone anymore.
Then the Lion came walking through the meadow.
His steps were strong.
His eyes were gentle.
His presence made the whole meadow feel safe.
The Lion sat near Joshua’s bench.
“Joshua,” the Lion said kindly, “Others may not always understand you, but I do. Some may not always include you, but I see you. You are not a mistake. You are loved.”
Joshua looked at the Lion.
“I am loved?” he asked.
“Yes,” said the Lion. “Very loved.”
Joppa smiled.
Rafi-Owl opened his wings slightly and said, “Proverbs tells us that fear of man can become a snare. That means if we live only for the approval of others, our hearts can feel trapped.”
Mahle nodded. “But when we trust the LORD, we are kept safe.”
Wally looked toward the bullies and then back at Joshua. “Their words do not get to decide who you are.”
Hippii smiled softly. “The Lion does.”
Joshua’s shoulders relaxed.
Wally passed the apples around.
Mahle shared his little bundle of clover.
Hippii brought cool water from the pond.
Joppa made room on the bench.
Millo sang a tiny happy song.
Soon Joshua was eating lunch with friends.
He even smiled.
And the bench near the fence, the place that had felt lonely at first, became the best bench in the meadow.
Because kindness had walked over.
Friendship had made room.
And the Lion had reminded Joshua of the truth:
God sees him.
God loves him.
He belongs to God.
Little Lesson
Sometimes children feel left out.
Sometimes someone may be laughed at, teased, ignored, or treated badly because they are different.
But different does not mean less.
Jesus loves every child.
Jesus sees every tear.
Jesus cares about the one sitting alone.
We can be brave friends by saying:
“Come sit with us.”
“You do not have to be alone.”
“That was not kind.”
“You matter.”
“Let’s get a safe grown-up to help.”
Kindness can make a lonely place feel safe again.
Reflection Question
Who can you include Today?
Is there someone at school, church, or the playground who may need a kind friend?
Safety Note for Children
If someone is bullying you, teasing you, hurting you, or making you feel unsafe, tell a trusted grown-up right away.
You can tell:
a parent, teacher, counselor, pastor, coach, school officer, or another safe adult.
You are not tattling when you ask for help.
You are protecting your heart and your life.
Prayer of Repentance, Courage, and Kindness
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for seeing every child.
Please forgive me for the times I have ignored someone who felt lonely, laughed when others were unkind, or stayed quiet when I should have shown Love.
Help me be brave and kind.
Help me notice the one sitting alone.
Help me include others.
Help me speak up with gentleness.
Help me ask a safe grown-up for help when someone is being hurt.
Thank You for loving me.
Thank You that every child matters to You.
Thank You that no one is forgotten in Your eyes.
Teach me to be a friend who brings Your Love into the meadow.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
References:
Tidwell, J. (2012). THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PERSUASIVE APPEALS AFTER PRIMING FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD. https://core.ac.uk/download/235095218.pdf
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