“None of you should look out just for your own good. You should also look out for the good of others.”
— Philippians 2:4 (NIrV)
Lexy was angry when she came to the supper table. What made it even worse was that she was angry about being angry. Recently, Dad had come home from his tour of duty with the military, and Lexy didn’t like the way she felt.
I should be happy, she thought. I should be glad Dad is home. But she had mixed-up feelings about all that was going on.
Partway through the meal, she started in. She complained about the things her older sister Brianna got to do that Lexy didn’t. She whined that her little brother Ethan always got special treatment. Her parents listened. They told her that they treated each of their kids differently because each of their kids needed different things. Lexy wasn’t sure she believed them.
After dinner, Brianna and Ethan left the table, and the kitchen suddenly grew quiet. Lexy sat with elbows on the table, feeling ignored.
“I’ve been thinking.” Dad broke into her thoughts. “When I was away, I kept thinking about what I’d like to do with each of you when I got home.”
Lexy stood up. Sure. Take Ethan to the circus. Take Brianna to —
“When it was really hot — it felt like 300 degrees at least — I remembered how you love ice cream. You and I are the only ones who can eat a whole La La Palooza. Eight scoops of Bridgeman’s ice cream smothered in a double serving of butterscotch, pineapple, and strawberry toppings; nuts; cherries; and a sliced banana!”
Lexy looked at Dad. He was right. Scoop after scoop of ice cream. Eating a whole La La Palooza was absolutely the only thing she could do better than both Brianna and Ethan.
Lexy giggled. “Eat it all and you get a medal!”
“Last time you and I went to Bridgeman’s was just before I shipped out,” Dad said. “You and I sat and ate and talked. We talked about all the ways you were going to grow up when I was gone.”
Tears welled up in Lexy’s eyes. It had been one of the most special times of her life.
“Want to go now?” Dad asked. “Just you and me? You can tell me all the good things that have happened to you this year. No Ethan to interrupt. No Brianna with a phone growing out of her ear. How about it?”
Lexy smiled. “I’d like that,” she said. In that moment, she knew. Dad really does think about what’s best for each of us. And she felt loved right down to her toes.
More to Explore: Colossians 3:14
Girl Talk: What can you do to make sure that everyone in your family feels like an important part?
God Talk: “Jesus, please show me what special thing I can do to show love to each member of my family. Amen.”
From Girl Talk by Lois Walfrid Johnson