Sadness to Joy

At the end of tonight's club program, I noticed a first grade girl was crying. Her small group had held a gift exchange and she ended up with a giant candy cane. She sobbed, "There was something else that I wanted, and my mom doesn't let me eat candy so she'll just throw this away!" She was so sad!

Thanks to some quick thinking, I ran to our prize stash and pulled out a few Beanie Babies. I told her that I'd trade her candy cane for a stuffed animal of her choice. She picked a cute little kitty cat and then gave me the tightest squeeze of a hug I have ever gotten from a kid.

I wanted to say to the girl, "Oh honey, this was nothing! You should see the way that Jesus turns sadness to joy. Follow Him and He will!" This is one simple way we can be like Jesus - by bringing some joy to those who are sad. And if we turn to Jesus, He will give us joy too. Are you willing to let Him turn your sadness to joy?