Be grateful for lessons

The word "lesson" can scare kids. Sometimes, it feels like everything you do is supposed to teach you a lesson: TV shows, schoolwork, being punished for hitting your brother.

"Have you learned your lesson?" the adult in charge asks, and you groan inside, "Why do I always have to LEARN something?"

Lessons may be a pain, but some of them last forever. In this week's Gospel (Matthew 15:21-28), we see that even Jesus learned a lesson once in a while.

A woman whose people Jesus hadn't taught yet begged Him to save her sick little girl. "I was sent only to help the chosen ones of God," Jesus told her. "Lord, even dogs eat the leftovers from their masters' tables," she answered. Jesus saw how much faith she had and healed her daughter.

Often, a lesson keeps you safe or stops you from doing something wrong. Being sent to your room teaches you not to slap your brother. A police officer who shows you how to yell for help if someone hurts you teaches you to take care of yourself.

Jesus' lesson must have been a hard one. He had only been teaching the Jewish people about God, because He was Jewish. But then someone who wasn't Jewish asked Him for help, and He wasn't sure He should help her.

When you learn something well, you'll never forget it -- like looking both ways before crossing the street. You've done that so many times, you don't even think about it!

Jesus learned His lesson well, too. The woman He met told Him, "Even if you're not sure about helping me, do it anyway, because everyone deserves help when they're in trouble." Jesus must have thought, "She's right!" because He said, "Your faith is so great, your wish is granted!"

You don't often think about thanking someone who taught you a lesson; but for Jesus, learning a lesson that important meant the teacher should be rewarded. He gave her a very special present: her little girl's life.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me to be thankful when I learn something important, instead of cranky! Amen.

(08-15-96)