For Kids · 3 min with a grown-up
On the saddest day of his life, David has to walk past a man who yells mean things at him. What David does next is surprising.
Today's Story
David was already having a terrible day. He had left his city behind and was walking the dusty road with his friends, feeling sad.
Then a man named Shimei showed up along the road and started yelling. He shouted unkind, hurtful things at David. He even threw dirt and stones! Insult after insult, all while David was already down.
David's soldiers were furious. “Let us go over there and make him stop!” they said.
But David shook his head. He stayed calm. “Leave him be,” David said. He didn't yell back. He didn't order anyone to hurt Shimei. Instead, David said something full of trust: “Maybe the LORD will see my trouble today, and bring me good things instead.”
David chose to stay gentle, even when someone was being mean to him. He left the whole thing in God's hands and just kept walking.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- David's soldiers wanted to fight back, but David stayed calm. Why is it so hard to stay calm when someone is mean to us?
- David trusted God to handle it instead of yelling back. What could you do the next time someone says something unkind?
- David believed God might “bring good things instead.” How can hard days sometimes turn into something good?