The Sting

"Get away! Get away!" Haven swung her arms wildly as a wasp buzzed round and round her head. "Mom! That bee is going to get me!"Haven dashed toward her mom, who was working in the flower garden. Mom held out her arms, and Haven rushed into them and hid her face against her mother. The angry bee followed."Stand still, and maybe he'll leave us alone," Mom said, hugging Haven close. But the wasp seemed determined to find a victim. As Mom brushed the bee away from Haven, it landed on her own bare arm. "Ow!" Mom exclaimed with a gasp. She instinctively slapped at the wasp, and it fell to the ground. Mom quickly stepped on it. "It's okay, honey," she said to Haven. "You don't need to be afraid of the bee anymore. It stung me, but I killed it."Haven lifted her head and looked at the welt on her mother's arm. "Oh, Mom! The bee stung you instead of me! Does it hurt bad?""Well, it doesn't feel very good," said Mom with a laugh. "But I'd rather have a wasp sting me than have it sting you."They went into the house, and Haven spoke thoughtfully as Mom put ice on her stung arm. "In my class at church last week, my teacher said Jesus took the punishment for all our sins. I didn't get it then, but I think I do now. Just like you're suffering for me, Jesus did too--only more." Mom nodded. "Jesus suffered and died on the cross to save us from sin and the eternal punishment it brings--death. When we trust Him as our Savior, He forgives our sins and gives us eternal life." "I want to ask Jesus to save me," Haven said softly.Mom put an arm around her. "I'll pray with you. Let's talk to Jesus right now." The bee sting was forgotten while Haven and her mom prayed and then read some verses about Jesus's sacrifice."Look, Mom! This one is perfect!" Haven pointed to a line in her Bible. "O death, where is your sting? O death, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -Hazel W. Marett