KIDS FIGURE THINGS OUT

Kids, though, have to figure things out -- and they often find smart ways to do it! In this week's Gospel (Matthew 9:36-10:8), Jesus sends the Apostles out on a mission -- and like kids who have to decide how to reach the peanut butter, the Apostles have to figure out how to do it.

It's easy for grownups to get impatient with kids. They forget that you don't know everything they know yet, and they tell you to do things without telling you how.

In a way, that's what Jesus did with the Apostles. He gave them the power to heal people, but He didn't say, "This is how you use it." That must have been strange at first!

Sometimes, it's good to be a kid and be able to figure things out. You might reach the peanut butter on the shelf in a way no grownup would think of! Kids are very smart.

Jesus must have thought the Apostles were smart, too. He didn't give them many directions, just sent them out to help people and trusted that they'd figure out how to do it.

The good thing is that no one's alone. The Apostles had each other to help figure out how to teach about God, and they could also ask Jesus. Kids have each other, God and grownups, too. You might be new at learning something, but there are lots of teachers around!