Children’s Day’s Journey
Porky Pine Preacher and Hayenna’s Laughing Words
Choosing Jesus When Others Mock You
Quiet Prayer
Dear Jesus, help us listen to Your Word with our whole hearts. Teach us to Love others deeply, even when they laugh at us for following You. Amen.
The Story
One sunny morning, Porky Pine Preacher sat beneath the shade tree with his little Bible open.
He had been reading slowly because he did not want to rush.
Sometimes Porky Pine liked to read one verse quickly and hurry on with his day, but Rafi-Owl had reminded him, “The Word of God is not a quick snack, Porky. It is living bread for your heart.”
So Porky read carefully.
“Above all, Love each other deeply, because Love covers over a multitude of sins.”
— 1 Peter 4:8
Porky Pine smiled.
“Love each other deeply,” he whispered. “That sounds simple.”
But as he kept reading, he learned that following Jesus would not always feel easy. Sometimes others might laugh, tease, or say unkind things because someone chooses what is right.
Just then, Porky heard giggling near the bushes.
“Hee-hee-hee!”
It was Hayenna the Hyena and her little group of laughing friends.
Hayenna leaned against a rock and called out, “Look! It’s Porky Pine Preacher again!”
Another hyena giggled. “Is he reading his Bible under a tree?”
Hayenna smirked. “Porky thinks he’s too good to come with us now.”
Porky’s little quills stood up.
His face felt warm.
He wanted to say something sharp back.
He wanted to stomp his little feet.
He wanted to close his Bible and run away.
But then he remembered what he had just read.
Love each other deeply.
Porky looked down at the page and whispered, “Jesus, help me Love deeply without following them into trouble.”
Joppa the Ostrich saw what was happening and walked over with Millo on her shoulder. Mahle the Spotted Lamb came too, and Rafi-Owl landed on a branch above them. Joppa reminded Porky Preacher who he belonged to: the King.
Hayenna laughed again. “Come on, Porky. Don’t be boring. We’re going to sneak into the berry patch and make a mess.”
Porky swallowed hard.
He remembered the last time Hayenna and her friends had invited him along. They had laughed while knocking over baskets, teasing the smaller animals, and blaming someone else when they got caught.
Porky did not want to go back to that.
“I can’t go with you,” Porky said softly.
Hayenna rolled her eyes. “Why not? Are you too holy now?”
The other hyenas laughed.
Porky’s heart hurt.
Joppa stepped closer but did not interrupt. She knew Porky needed courage.
Porky took a deep breath and said, “I am not better than you, Hayenna. I just don’t want to do things that hurt others anymore.”
Hayenna stopped laughing for a moment, but then she scoffed. “Whatever, Preacher Porky.”
The hyenas ran off, still giggling.
Porky looked down sadly.
Millo chirped, “That hurt, didn’t it?”
Porky nodded. “Yes. I wanted to yell back.”
Mahle nuzzled close. “But you didn’t.”
Rafi-Owl opened his Bible and said, “Peter warned that sometimes others may be surprised when we do not join them in wrong choices anymore.”
Porky sniffled. “I don’t hate Hayenna. I just don’t want to follow her into trouble.”
Lion stepped from the path and sat beside Porky.
“That is Love, too,” Lion said.
Porky blinked. “It is?”
“Yes,” said Lion. “Love does not join others in destruction. Love prays. Love tells the truth. Love forgives. But love does not call wrong things safe.”
Porky looked back toward the bushes where Hayenna had gone.
“So I can Love her and still not go with her?”
“Yes,” said Joppa. “You can love her without following her.”
“You can pray for her,” said Mahle.
“You can forgive her mocking words,” said Rafi-Owl.
“And you can keep walking with Jesus,” said Millo.
Porky Pine looked at his Bible again.
The verse did not feel like a quick snack.
It felt like bread for courage.
Porky prayed softly, “Lord Jesus, help me Love Hayenna with Your love. Help me forgive her words. But please do not let me go back to what You rescued me from.”
Lion smiled.
And Porky Pine Preacher remembered:
Choosing Jesus does not mean we are perfect.
It means we know we need Him.
Heart Lesson
Sometimes others may laugh when we choose Jesus.
They may say we are boring.
They may say, “We think we are better.”
They may try to pull us back into wrong choices.
But Love does not mean following others into trouble.
God’s Love helps us forgive, pray, speak truth, and keep walking with Jesus.
You can Love someone and still say no.
You can forgive someone and still choose what is right.
You can be kind without making bad choices.
Memory Verse
“Above all, Love each other deeply, because Love covers a multitude of sins.”
— 1 Peter 4:8
Reflection Questions
- Why did Hayenna mock Porky Pine Preacher?
- What did Porky want to do when he felt hurt?
- How did Lion explain Love to Porky?
- Can we Love someone without following them into wrong choices?
Prayer of Repentance
Dear Jesus,
Please forgive me for the times I followed others into wrong choices because I wanted to belong.
Forgive me for the times I mocked others, laughed at what was holy, or used unkind words.
Help me Love deeply with Your Love. Help me forgive those who hurt my feelings. Help me say no to wrong choices and yes to You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Bless every child who is trying to follow You while others laugh or tease. Give them courage, kindness, wisdom, and peace.
Help us remember that Your Word is not a quick snack. It is living bread for our hearts.
Teach us to Love deeply without going back to what You rescued us from.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Closing Line
Love deeply, but do not follow trouble.
Choose Jesus and keep walking in His light.
Soli Deo Gloria