Previous Posts – Click to View

January 2013
S M T W T F S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

A Love Story

4th Sunday after the Epiphany

Adapted from “Scolding the Snakes”

Scripture Reference: 1 Cor. 13:1-13

Preparation (Optional): Bring a stuffed dog and cat or a picture to illustrate the story. 

Would you like to hear a love story? Don’t worry; there’s no kissing in this one. This is a story about an old dog and a little kitten. (If you brought the stuffed animals, use them to help you tell the story.)

Once upon a time, there was an old dog who really knew what it was to love. He was patient and kind and very happy when something good happened to someone else, even if it didn’t happen to him. The dog was never rude and didn’t brag when he had done something good. He was a very loving dog.

One day, a kitten wandered into the life of this dog. He found her cowering behind a garbage can. She was all dirty and half-starved. The kitten, though she needed help, was frightened of the dog. And she hissed and spit when the dog came near. The dog was very patient, though, and even though the kitten scratched his nose and bit his ears, he gently carried it over to his own bowl of food and let it eat every last crumb. The kitten had a full tummy now and was stronger; and when the dog tried to wash its matted fur by licking the kitten, it snapped at the dog and scratched him even harder. But the old dog’s love was patient and kind. It was not irritable. The old dog’s love did not insist on its own way. So the dog kept caring for the kitten.

Other dogs came around and looked at the raggedy kitten scratching the old dog every time he tried to help, and they told him, “Why do you bother with that dirty little kitten? Look at all the scratches it has given you! You should give up on it.” But the old dog’s love never gave up, never lost faith, and it lasted through every difficulty. So the dog kept caring for the kitten.

By the end of a week, the dog had a very sore nose and chewed-up ears, but the kitten looked much better. Its fur was clean and groomed and soft. Its little belly was plump. Its whiskers were straight, and its eyes were bright.

And the next time the other dogs came around, there sat the loving old dog: his scratches were healed, and he was happily curled around a little purring ball of a kitten. The old dog had not only saved the kitten’s life, he had also taught it how to love.

What do you think made that kitten change? How did the old dog teach the kitten about love? (Let children answer.) When you get home today, have your parents read 1 Corinthians 13 to you. It will teach you about love.

Prayer:  Lord, teach us to love you more and more, and help us love one another just as you love us.

Note: See the puppet script, “A Love Story (with No Kissing)” in the Puppet Script section of this website.

Bless Me with a Comment: