Little Joe loved being the youngest kid, well most of the time he did. For one thing, he did not have to do as many chores as Emily and Molly. He didn’t have to go to school, or do homework and he got to play most of the day. Even though he was free to explore and have fun he was also learning to be, what Mama calls, responsible.
Little Joe was learning how to make his bed, pick up his toys after playing and brush his teeth after eating. His favorite time of the day was when his friend Timmy came to play. Timmy was little Joe’s neighbor. His mommy let Timmy play with Little Joe whenever he wanted to.
Even though Little Joe was always allowed to play with Timmy he had to stay in his yard at all times. That is one of the things, about being the youngest kid, little Joe did not like. Molly and Emily could cross the street whenever they wanted to, why couldn’t he?
One day when Timmy and Little Joe were playing ball outside, the ball rolled across the street. Little Joe knew that he could not leave the yard but he was so tempted. It would only take a split second to grab the ball and bring it back to the yard. Before he knew it
his little legs were running as fast as they could. He wanted to get that ball and bring it back before anyone saw him. Just as he was about to run into the street he heard a loud SCREECH and as he looked left he saw a big white car swerve so close to him he could feel it’s
Just as he was about to run into the street he heard a loud SCREECH and as he looked left he saw a big white car swerve so close it almost hit him.
Uncle Joe came running from behind the garage and yelled, “Little Joe, are you okay?” But Little Joe could not speak and he could not move.
Just then Mama came out the door. Her beautiful face looked terrified. “Little Joe, get out of the street Right Now!” she ordered.
Little Joe backed up until he felt the safety of the curb. He stepped up on the curb and felt his legs go weak. Suddenly he was on the ground. Little Joe pulled his legs up close to his body, dropped his head to his knees and wrapped his hands behind his neck. Hot tears welled up in his eyes. He felt his legs and his whole body shaking. He was afraid to look up. “If only I could go back and call for Uncle Joe to get the ball for me,” he thought.
When Little Joe looked up Uncle Joe was standing next to him and Mama was waving at the big white car. Uncle Joe spoke softly, “Little Joe, are you okay?”
Little Joe shook his head yes and then he began to cry loudly. “I’m so sorry Uncle Joe.” Just then Mama came walking up to Little Joe. There was fear in Mama’s eyes. Little Joe whimpered, “I almost got killed, Mama !”
Uncle Joe bent down and rubbed Little Joe’s head. “Come on Wee Man, get up, you’re safe now.“ As little Joe stood this his feet he said, “Why do I always disobey the rules, Uncle Joe? I know the rules but I just don’t want to obey them.”
Uncle Joe’s face got serious and that far away look washed over him. “Well, Wee Man, ever since the beginning of time people have had a problem with rules. Every person wants to do things their own way, nobody really wants to obey the rules. It’s only when we understand that God gave us rules to protect us not to hurt us that we begin to see why we must obey the rules.”
Little Joe looked up at Mama as a tear slipped from his eye. “Mama, I’m sorry I disobeyed you. Sometimes I think the rules are dumb but I know that you give me rules to protect me, just like God gives me rules to protect me. Will you forgive me, Mama?”
Mama’s face softened and the corners of her mouth turned up as her eyes twinkled. “Yes, Wee man, I do forgive you.” Mama wrapped her arms around Little Joe, picked him up and twirled him around two times. Little Joe loved his Mama and he was so sorry he disobeyed and frightened her.
Little Joe understood that the rules in the Summerfield family must be obeyed. If a rule was broken, there was alway a consequence. “Mama, what is my consequence?” asked Little Joe.
Mama held Little Joe’s hand and looked directly into his eyes, “What do you think your consequence should be?”
Little Joe hung his head and thought about it. “Well Mama, I think I should go to bed without supper and I should be grounded to the house for a whole month.”
Mama patted Little Joe’s head gently as she bent down beside him. “Wee man, I think you have punished yourself pretty hard all by yourself. I believe you learned an important lesson today. I’ve decided to give you grace.”
“What do you mean Mama? What does grace mean?” said Little Joe.
Looking up into the trees, Mama took a moment to think, as if she would find the right words falling like the leaves around her. “What I mean when I say Grace is that I will not give you a consequence this time, even though you deserve one.”
“Really Mama! No Consequence!” Little Joe said as he looked at his mama in amazement.
“Really Little Joe, no consequence at all!” answered Mama
Just then Timmy, who had been watching the whole thing, ran up to Little Joe and fell into his arms. He gave his friend a full bear hug and as he tucked his face into Little Joe’s shoulder he said, “You could have got killed, Little Joe! You could have got killed!! I am so glad you didn’t! You are so lucky!”
Mama laughed softly as she reached out to ruffle Timmy’s hair. “Timmy, I’d say Little Joe was protected, not lucky.” Timmy’s face turned red because Mama always made his face turn red.
Little Joe gave Timmy a friendly punch on the arm, grabbed the ball, which was now in the yard, as he said, come on Buddy let’s play ball!
she is about to say something important. “Emily, there is a saying I want you to remember. It’s a true saying, it goes like this … Hurt people … hurt people.” Mama was quiet as she looked deep into Emily’s eyes.
Emily smiled big, “Of course we can Miley!” Emily said with joyful conviction. “I have to eat first and then I can play. The Anderson sisters are coming back. It will be fun to have you play with us too.” Miley let out a big breath of air as a smile of relief traveled across her face, “Oh thank you, Emily, I know I need to work on my bad behavior. I am so thankful that you forgive me so quickly.” The girls hugged each other and then Miley turned and skipped all the way back to her house.
Emily ran to the hallway to look at the chore chart hanging on the wall. Her bedroom was the first room on the chore chart. She read the chores for her bedroom and then set her feet toward her room. She started by making her bed. Emily carefully tucked in the corners of the top sheet and placed her pillow at the head of the bed. Next, she picked up the end of her pink and green quilt and fluffed it in the air. On the last
