Bible Reading: Mark 2:3-12

Kelvin sighed as he picked up a big box. "This room is full of stuff."

Mom wiped sweat from her forehead. "And we need to get it all moved to the garage. Theresa and her kids will be here soon."

Kelvin and his mom had been struggling since his dad passed away, and he had been surprised when Mom told him that her friend was going to move in with them for a while.

Kelvin made a couple of trips to the garage, then he dropped to the floor in the still-messy guest room. "I'm tired."

"Me too." Mom leaned against the wall. "We can break for a minute."

"Why are we doing this?" Kelvin asked.

"Because Theresa had a fire at her house," Mom said. "She and her kids can't live there anymore."

"I know that, but why do they have to come here? Aren't there other places they can go?"

"She's my friend, Kelvin," Mom said. "We help our friends when they're in trouble." Mom knelt on the floor. "I'll tell you one quick story, then we need to get back to work. When Jesus was doing miracles, some men came to bring their friend to see Him. Their friend couldn't walk, so they had to carry him to the house."

Kelvin looked at his mom. "They carried a grownup?"

Mom nodded. "When they got to the house, it was too full to get inside. Instead of leaving, they climbed onto the roof with their friend and made a hole in the roof."

Kelvin's eyes widened. "They took him on the roof?"

"They lowered him down through the hole," Mom said. "And Jesus healed him. The men did everything they could for their friend, showing him the kind of love that God shows us. Jesus laid down His life for us, and when we make sacrifices for our friends like He did, we show them His love." Mom stood up. "And now we need to get this room cleaned and set up for Theresa's family so I can be a good friend and show her God's love."

"We should get back to work, huh?" Kelvin got to his feet. "At least we don't have to carry people or climb onto any roofs."

Mom smiled. "Right?"

–Emily Acker