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Have you ever noticed how easily children tune out direct commands? "Share you toys." "Don't pester your brother." "Let somebody else go first." Good instructions, yet they're rarely as effective as you'd like them to be!

But children quickly tune in to stories—especially stories about themselves or characters they can identify with. Jesus knew that we not only listen to, but learn from stories. So he told a Jewish audience a story about someone just like themselves: a Jerusalem resident making a trip. He knew his listeners would identify with the main character, would get caught up in the drama and suspense, and would be shocked out of their complacency when the hero of the story was revealed as none other than a member of a despised ethnic group.

In this story, Jesus not only taught that race is no barrier to the love God calls you to. He also showed how to bring that message home with real impact. Tell stories. Let your children discover the good in others through accounts that grip their imagination rather than commands on how they should act and feel. (See also Jonah 1; Matthew 5:43-48; 3 John 4-11.)

Good Words to Remember:
[Jesus asked,] "Which of these then do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" [The lawyer said,] "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:36, 37

Today's Challenge:
How do you help your child see others in a fresh way?

Bible Studies on Parenting and Family