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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me find the positives when plans change, instead of getting grumpy. Amen!

A tax collector named Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Zacchaeus was short, so he climbed a tree to look. Jesus saw him and called, "Come down! I'm having lunch with you." Zacchaeus happily came, but the crowd grumbled that Jesus would eat with a bad person. Then Zacchaeus told Jesus, "Lord, I'll give money to the poor and pay back anyone I cheated." Jesus answered, "You've been saved."

A change in plans can make a kid grumpy. If you thought you'd be taking your bicycle out in the beautiful autumn weather, but your parents decide there isn't enough time, you're probably not happy! To your parents, there will be other times to go biking; to you, your plans were set.

This week's Gospel (Luke 19:1-10) is about a different way of looking at a change in plans. Zacchaeus is a guy who isn't liked by his neighbors because he works for the government, which is charging too much money in taxes. Zacchaeus goes to see Jesus -- not because he expects to talk with Jesus, but because he's heard about this guy who can do miracles and he's curious.

You never know what a change in plans will bring. Grocery shopping with your parents could turn out to be as fun as bicycling, and you'll get to pick out foods you want. Even if it isn't fun, it's important, since your family needs to buy food more than they need to ride bicycles.

Zacchaeus was shocked when Jesus stopped to talk. Jesus even invited Himself to lunch at Zacchaeus' house! The change in plans made Zacchaeus look at himself differently. If a tax collector who didn't have friends could draw the attention of Jesus, maybe something good could come out of it.

Changing plans can make you grumpy -- or you can decide to react differently. You can look for the fun in whatever you end up doing. Zacchaeus decided to become a better person: to give back any money he took, and give more to people who were poor.

When your plans change, get past the grumpiness. If Zacchaeus could change, so can you![[In-content Ad]]

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