Anna

Anna learns that anger walks hand-in-hand with forgiveness!

I am four and one half years old. My friend Joe is five, he and his Mom came to visit us, and Joe and I were having lots of fun playing with two large dogs. One of them flopped against me and knocked me down and then fell against Joe and knocked him down.

Joe got very mad at me ~~~

I told him it was the dog's fault, and that he should not be mad at me. Joe got a stick, and was going to hit the dog.

My Mom told him not to hit the dog because the dog might bite him. While Joe was looking at my Mom, the dog took the stick in his mouth and started pulling him around. The dog then went right through a mud puddle and Joe fell down.

I started laughing ~~~

My Mom made me go in the house. I told my Mom it was not fair, it was the dogs' fault, not mine. "The dog was not laughing," she replied.

Joe's mom brought him in the house and changed his clothes. Then my Mom gave us both a Popsicle; it sure was good. Joe’s Mom started laughing. I asked her why? She said, "You know if you think about it, it was kind'a funny." Then we all laughed.

Soon Joe had to go home ~~~

I was walking with them to the car and while passing a mud puddle, Joe pushed me and I sat right down in the mud puddle.

Joe started laughing ~~~

His Mom looked around just as I threw a hand full of mud at him. Some of it got in his eyes and he started crying -- very loudly. My Mom came out to see what was wrong. His Mom told my Mom that I threw mud in Joe's face. My Mom was going to spank me until she saw the mud on my clothes. Then she wanted to know why I was muddy? I told her Joe pushed me into the mud puddle and laughed at me. Joe's Mom asked him if he did and he said, "Yes, cause she laughed at me."

His Mom said, "You know the Bible says that we are to love each other. If you loved Anna you would have forgiven her. Aren't you sorry that you pushed her?"

"Yes, but she did look funny sitting in the puddle, but I am sorry I pushed her, she is my best friend." I said, "I am sorry I threw mud on you, please forgive me."

His Mom said, "Do you know what the Bible says about anger?" Joe answered, "It says put anger away." "Yes, that is right." His Mom continued with, "And what else does the Bible say?"

We both shrugged our shoulders and looked puzzled ~~~

His Mom said, "It says be not quick to anger. You see, Anna was angry in a flash." Joe's Mom giggled and smiled. "You could say in a splash!" We all laughed.

My Mom said, "Come again and bring some old clothes and your boat, we’ll all go fishing, but not in a mud puddle." She smiled and we waved goodbye.

Anna thought hard to herself ~~~

'I don't know about Joe but, I am going to try to put away anger.'