Children’s Day’s Journey with Joppa and Friends
The sun peeked over the hills, painting the meadow with soft gold light.
Joppa the Ostrich stretched her long neck and blinked at the morning sky. Millo fluttered down and landed on a low nearby branch, his little crooked beak tilted into a smile.
“It is a brand-new day,” Millo chirped.
Mahle the Spotted Lamb stepped carefully through the grass. “I like brand-new days,” he said. “They feel like clean pages.”
Rafi-Owl nodded from the old oak tree. “That is because the Lord’s mercies are new every morning.”
Just then, Porky Pine the Preacher came waddling down the path with his little Bible tucked under one arm. His quills stood up proudly behind him.
“Good morning, friends!” Porky called. “Today, I have a message!”
Joppa smiled. “What is it about?”
Porky lifted his chin. “God’s mercy.”
Mahle’s ears perked up. “I love mercy.”
“So do I,” said Millo.
Porky opened his Bible and read, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning.”
“That means God does not run out of mercy,” Porky said. “Yesterday’s mistakes do not have to consume us. When we come to Him, He forgives, washes, teaches, and helps us begin again.”
Joppa lowered her head thoughtfully. “Like a blank page?”
“Yes,” Porky said. “A blank page for God to write a new story for His glory.”
The friends listened closely.
But as Porky kept teaching, his voice became sharper.
“So if anyone made a mistake yesterday,” he said, “they better be ashamed. They should have known better. They should not even come close until they fix themselves.”
Mahle’s eyes filled with tears.
Millo grew quiet.
Joppa looked down at the ground.
Rafi-Owl gently fluffed his feathers. “Porky,” he said softly, “may I ask you something?”
Porky blinked. “Of course.”
“Are you preaching mercy,” Rafi asked, “or are you using the message like a quill?”
Porky looked over his shoulder at his quills. “Like a quill?”
Rafi nodded. “Your quills were given to protect you. But if you swing them carelessly, they can sting someone who was only trying to come close.”
Porky looked at Mahle’s tears, Millo’s quiet face, and Joppa’s lowered head.
His heart sank.
“Oh,” he whispered. “I did not mean to sting anyone.”
From beneath the shade tree, a deep and gentle voice spoke.
“Come here, little preacher.”
Everyone turned.
Lion was resting beneath the branches, His golden mane shining in the morning light. His eyes were strong, but full of Love.
Porky slowly walked to Him. “Lion, I was trying to teach about mercy.”
“I know,” Lion said.
“But I think I made mercy sound scary.”
Lion lowered His head close to Porky. “Truth is never meant to be separated from My Love. My Word corrects, but it also calls. It exposes sin, but it also invites the sinner to come home. Mercy does not pretend wrong is right, but mercy opens the door for repentance, forgiveness, and restoration.”
Porky’s quills softened.
“I used the message like a weapon,” he said sadly.
Lion looked at him with steady Love. “Then let mercy begin with you this morning.”
Porky looked up. “With me?”
“Yes,” Lion said. “My mercies are new for you too.”
Porky’s eyes filled with tears. “I am sorry, Lion. Forgive me for using Your truth without Your tenderness.”
Lion touched His nose gently to Porky’s forehead. “You are forgiven. Now go and speak again, but this time, let the wounded hear My heart.”
Porky turned back to his friends.
“I am sorry,” he said. “I wanted to teach you that God’s mercy is new every morning, but I spoke in a way that made you feel ashamed instead of invited. That was wrong.”
Mahle stepped closer. “I thought maybe I could not come to Lion because I still make mistakes.”
Porky shook his head. “No, Mahle. That is exactly why we come to Him. We do not come because we have already made ourselves clean. We come because He is merciful.”
Joppa lifted her head. “So yesterday does not have to hold the pen?”
Porky smiled softly. “No. Yesterday does not get to write the whole story. Lion does.”
Millo fluttered his wings. “And His Love is steadfast?”
Lion stood and walked toward them.
“Yes,” Lion said. “My Love is steadfast. I do not change with the morning. I do not stop loving My creation when they stumble. I call them back. I wash them. I teach them. I walk with them.”
The meadow grew still.
Porky opened his Bible again. This time, his voice was gentle.
“Friends, hear the good news. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning. If you sinned yesterday, come to Him. If you were afraid yesterday, come to Him. If you were unkind yesterday, come to Him. If you feel ashamed Today, come to Him. His mercy is not permission to keep running from Him. His mercy is the open door that calls us back home.”
Mahle smiled through his tears.
Joppa whispered, “A brand-new day.”
“A brand-new day,” Porky said.
Then he prayed.
“Lion, thank You for mercy that is new every morning. Forgive us for the times we use Your Word to sting rather than to draw others close to You. Forgive us for shame, pride, harshness, and fear. Teach us to tell the truth with Love. Help us remember that Your mercy does not hide sin, but it does heal the sinner who comes to You. Write our story Today for Your glory.”
All the friends bowed their heads.
“In Lion’s name,” Porky said, “amen.”
And as the sun rose higher over the meadow, Porky Pine the Preacher learned something he would never forget:
The message of mercy must sound like the heart of the Merciful One.
Sacred Pause
Have you ever made a mistake and felt afraid to come to God?
Pause and remember: God’s mercy is new every morning.
He does not call you to hide.
He calls you to come close.
Little Lesson
God’s truth should never be used to shame people away from Him.
God’s truth, spoken with Love, helps people come home.
Mercy does not say sin is okay.
Mercy says, “Come to Jesus. He forgives, heals, teaches, and restores.”
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for mercy that is new every morning. Thank You that yesterday’s mistakes do not have to consume me.
Forgive me for my sins. Forgive me for the times I have used my words to sting others rather than help them come closer to You. Teach me to speak truth with Love.
Please write my story Today for Your glory. Help me come to You quickly when I do wrong, and help me show mercy to others the way You show mercy to me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Scripture References
Lamentations 3:22–23
John 1:14
Ephesians 4:15
Romans 8:1
1 John 1:9
Psalm 51:10
Revelation 3:20
Psalm 143:8
Works Cited / Acknowledgment
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Scripture references include Lamentations 3, John 1, Ephesians 4, Romans 8, 1 John 1, Psalm 51, Revelation 3, and Psalm 143.
Shaped with assistance from OpenAI’s ChatGPT for children’s devotional structure, editing, Scripture organization, and clarity.