A Lesson from Shadow

Michael stood on the lawn, wishing he had someone to play with. "Timmy!" he called loudly, hoping his friend next door would hear him. "Tiiimmmeeee!" Michael's mom appeared on the back porch. "Go over and knock on Timmy's door, Michael. It's not polite to just yell for him." "But what if his mom answers?" asked Michael. "What if she doesn't want to be bothered?" "Oh, Michael, Timmy's mom is a very nice lady. She wouldn't mind answering the door," Mom assured him. "Don't be so shy." Michael looked at the neighbors' door. Mom was right--he was shy around adults he didn't know well. But knowing that didn't make him feel any braver. I think I'll just play here, he thought when his mom went back in. Maybe Timmy will see me and come out. Michael wandered behind the house to the tall maple tree where a black squirrel lived. He had named the squirrel Shadow and often tried to get close to watch the little animal get kernels from the ear of corn Dad had nailed to the fence post. At first, Shadow always ran away. Now the squirrel watched with his beady black eyes, but he didn't run until Michael was only a few feet away. "I think Shadow's starting to trust me," Michael told his mom at lunchtime. "He's learning you're not there to hurt him," Mom said. "That reminds me of you. You're still learning to trust our new neighbor--Timmy's mom. When you know her better, you'll see that she's happy to have you come over. The better you know someone, the easier it is to trust them." Pushing her chair back, Mom stood and took her dishes to the sink. "You know, Michael, it's like that in our relationship with God too. The better we get to know Him, the easier it is to trust Him. We get to know God as we read His Word and learn about Jesus, who loves us so much that He gave His life for us." She smiled. "I know I can trust Him to help me through anything." Michael thought about how Shadow was getting to know him and trust him. I want to be like that with God, he thought. And I want to trust Him to help me not be so shy around Timmy's mom and other adults too. -Judith K. Boogaart