During the last day of Vacation Bible School, the five-year-old class was interrupted by the arrival of a new student. This little boy had only one arm and all the children stared at him as he took a seat.

The teacher looked nervously around the room and prayed that no one would comment about the little boy’s handicap. She hurriedly continued on with her lesson and successfully diverted the attention away from the new student.

Time passed quickly and, just before the bell was to ring, the teacher asked all of the students to stand for their closing activity.

“Okay students, let’s build our churches. Everyone put your hands together and repeat after me. Here’s the church and here’s the steeple…”

Suddenly she stopped. Embarrassment and awkwardness flooded the room. The teacher gasped as she realized what she had done. The entire class was once again staring at the little boy who had only one arm.

It was in that moment that something amazing happened. From across the table, little Susie broke the silence. “It’s okay teacher, Johnny and I can build our churches together.” And with that she walked across the room, reached out with her left hand and joined with Johnny’s right.

Devotional

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

In truth, every one of us has a handicap. The church is not a place of perfect people. The church is a place of imperfect people who join together under the headship of Christ to make each other whole.

1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (NIV) “…there should be no division in the body … its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

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The story above was taken from the book, “Sonny Day Devos” by Sonny Childs. This heartwarming collection of short stories is sure to inspire happy thoughts and healthy applications.

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