Model Building

After supper one evening, Caden helped clear the table and then covered it with old newspapers. "I'm going to work on my new model car," he said. He grinned as he took it out of the box. "Just look at all those pieces! And these details are awesome!"Caden began working, but it wasn't long before he went looking for his father. "Can you help me with my model car, Dad?" he asked.Dad looked up from his computer. "Sure, but can you manage it by yourself until I finish what I'm working on?""I'll try," Caden replied. But when Dad came to help him a little later, almost nothing had been done."What's the problem, buddy?" asked Dad.Caden sighed. "I don't understand how everything is supposed to fit together."Dad took the instruction sheet. "Okay," he said after glancing at it, "let's figure it out together." They got to work and soon were busy reading instructions, finding pieces, and fitting them to one another.After a while, Caden's mom reminded him that he needed to do his homework. "Okay, and I need to learn a verse for Bible club tomorrow too," said Caden. He sighed. "I like Bible club, but it takes up a lot of time." He turned to his dad. "Thanks for helping. I never would have gotten this far without you. I didn't understand what the sheet was saying until you walked me through it."Dad nodded. "Then trying to put this model together without my help would be a little like trying to live the Christian life without help from other Christians," he said. "That's something to remember as you learn your verse. Your Bible club teacher and our pastor and Sunday school teachers all help us understand the truth of the Bible. They help us understand the gospel--the good news that Jesus died and rose again to save us and give us eternal life--and how we should live as God's children. We need to remember to thank the Lord for them."Caden thought about it. "I guess you're right," he said. "There are lots of things in the Bible that I don't understand by myself." He grinned. "And you and Mom help too." -Dean Kelley