“If a boy or girl makes you upset, what should you do?” she said. Daniel wasn’t sure. “You need to pray to God to help you forgive the boy or girl,” Mother said.
To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, June 29.
By Andrew McChesney
How does a future missionary spend his day? Father and Mother have a plan for 4-year-old Daniel in Armenia.
Daniel has no question about what to do when he wakes up in the morning. The first thing he does is make his bed and wash his face. Then he reads a chapter in his children’s Bible. He reads very slowly, but he knows how to read. After reading, he does physical exercises for 5–10 minutes. After that, he joins Father and Mother in the living room for family worship.
The other morning, Daniel found Father working on his laptop on the couch. Father put away his work when Mother came in from the kitchen. The three knelt down to pray, and Daniel prayed first.
“Thank You for giving me a new day and for waking me up,” he said. “Help me to be a good boy. Help me to love You.”
Sitting on the couch, Mother opened the children’s Bible and read the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. Daniel was surprised that Roman soldiers hammered nails into Jesus’ hands and feet on the cross. He knew that the nails must have hurt a lot, and he felt very sad for Jesus.
After worship, Daniel went to the kitchen table for breakfast. “Jesus, bless this food. Amen,” he prayed.
Then he enjoyed his favorite breakfast: buckwheat porridge, bread baked by Mother, vanilla yogurt, and a banana.
Mother said it was important to walk after eating, so Daniel quickly brushed his teeth and went out for a 20-minute walk with her. As they walked, Daniel chatted about his favorite subject: dogs.
When Daniel finished talking about dogs, Mother spoke about one of her favorite subjects: good manners.
“If a boy or girl makes you upset, what should you do?” she said.
Daniel wasn’t sure.
“You need to pray to God to help you forgive the boy or girl,” Mother said.
Daniel nodded. If he felt upset, he would pray to God.
Back at home, Daniel played with cars while Mother prepared lunch. Then he enjoyed a lunch of vareniki, dumplings stuffed with mashed potatoes.
After brushing his teeth, he played with building blocks and other toys until suppertime. Then he put away his toys and ate supper. After brushing his teeth, he went with Mother to choir practice at the Seventh-day Adventist church. Daniel sang in a children’s choir, and Mother was the choir director.
Back at home again, Daniel and Mother went to the refrigerator in the kitchen. They wanted to see a chart on the door. The chart was Daniel’s check list of what to do every day of the week. Mother read from the list.
“Get up by 8 a.m.,” she read. “Yes, you were up,” she said, and made a check mark.
Daniel smiled.
“Make bed,” Mother read. Check.
“Do workout.” Check.
“Read the Bible.” Check.
“Brush teeth.” Check.
Other things on the list included good manners, sharing, not interrupting, picking up the bedroom, and asking forgiveness if necessary.
At the end of the list, Mother read, “Go to bed by 9:30 p.m.”
“What time is it?” Mother asked.
Daniel looked a little worried until Mother looked at the clock and assured him that it wasn’t past bedtime. Check.
Daniel, Mother, and Father prayed together at evening worship, and then Daniel went to bed.
