by Marcia Sanders
The sun was bright overhead, the clouds fluffy white against a brilliant blue sky as David, Jason, and Skippy raced through the pasture to home. Laughing, David fell to the ground just inside the fenced yard, and Skippy danced around both boys before flopping across David’s stomach.
“Skippy, get off!” David sputtered. “You’re too heavy!”
“David, have you ever noticed how being outside in the sunshine on a cool day makes you want to run really fast?” Jason asked. “It’s kinda like it fills you up on energy just as food fills your stomach.”
“I hadn’t thought of it like that, but you’re right. Now that I think about it, being active makes me feel good, while lying around the house on a rainy day makes me tired. That’s weird, huh?”
“You know, Pastor John mentioned some things in youth class that give us energy and other things that take it away,” Jason said. “He’s right. Being thankful for what God has given us, spending time reading my Bible and praying . . . all of those things make me feel good.”
“Right. But spending too much time on my phone or watching TV makes me tired and like I don’t want to do anything,” David responded. “Too much sugar does that too.”
“Speaking of food, can we go inside and get a snack?” Jason asked.
“Sure.” David hopped up and headed through the back door.
“Mom, Jason and I need a snack. What is there to eat?”
Mom turned from the sink where she was washing dishes and smiled. “Well, there are some apples and bananas, granola bars, cookies. Or you can make peanut butter sandwiches.”
“Hmmm, lots of choices,” David mused. “What do you want, Jason?”
“Well, I’d like a cookie, but now I’m wondering if that’s what I should eat . . . considering what we were just talking about.”
Mom asked about that discussion. The boys told her what they had noticed about which things gave them energy and which ones drained it away.
“The Bible has quite a bit to say about making wise decisions,” Mom told them. “And it doesn’t apply only to big decisions, like giving your heart to the Lord. We should also ask for wisdom in the little things, like foods and activities. Our bodies are the temple of the Lord and should be treated as such.”
“That makes me think of our memory verse from a few weeks ago,” David said. “You know the one, Jason — Luke 2:52. It says Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people. I think that means He made wise decisions, large and small, based on what His Father would want Him to do.”
“So, I think we should grab an apple and read the background verses for our next Sabbath school lesson,” Jason said. David smiled. “Sounds wise.”
