Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-18
"What are you reading about?" asked Anna as she peered over her brother's shoulder to see what was on his computer screen. "Oh, look at that little animal! He's so cute!"
"Stop saying everything is cute!" said Milo. "That's a badger, and badgers are interesting, not cute!"
Anna sniffed. "Well, I think that badger is cute. What do you find so interesting about it?"
"Well, this article says that when badgers make their homes underground, they dig dens that are interconnected by a whole maze of burrows and passages. I think that's pretty cool!"
"That is cool," said Anna. "That means they can visit each other without having to go above ground."
Milo nodded. "And it says badgers are nocturnal animals, which means--"
"I know what it means," said Anna. "It means they're awake at night and sleep during the day."
"Right. And listen to this. 'If a badger is away from home at daybreak, he may stay and rest with another badger family for a while before heading back to his own den.' They must be hospitable animals."
"Hospitable? What does that mean?" asked Anna.
"You know--making guests feel comfortable and at home," said Milo.
"Oh! Like how we took care of the missionaries who stayed with us last month." Anna laughed. "Maybe the traveling badgers are missionary badgers!"
"Listen to this," said Milo. "Badgers sometimes even allow a fox to stay in their den!"
"Hmm," said Anna. "I can't think of anything to compare that to!"
"I can," said Milo. "It might be like inviting someone you don't know very well to come over and play--like those new kids who just moved in down the street." Milo glanced out the window thoughtfully. "In my class at church, we talked about how being kind and welcoming to others shows them Jesus's love. He welcomed us into His family when we were outsiders, and He wants us to welcome others and help them feel at home. We even learned a verse that says to practice hospitality."
"Let's ask Mom if we can invite the new kids over," said Anna. She grinned and pointed toward the TV room. "I'm sure we can make them feel at home in our den!"
–Tanya Ferdinandusz
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