Teens
Be Of Cheerful Heart!
©
by
Stephen A. Peterson
Rain streaked the windows. It clattered on the roof like the hooves of an angry herd of buffalo thundering across the Oklahoma plains and surrounded the house with a dark impregnable gray curtain. “I hate rain!” mumbled 15 year old Kristen. She had been cooped up all day with a mischievous 4 year old brother who kept getting into everything it seemed. Now she had to baby-sit for her parents on a Saturday afternoon when she could be out with her friends at the mall in Shawnee laughing and having all kinds of fun. But she was home in the living room that looked like a toy-strewn battleground. Kristen felt like a prisoner of war.
Kristen got on all fours and began picking up books, plastic soldiers, balls and over a dozen other children’s’ toys. “I hate kids’ toys!” Kristen said, frowning crossly. Karl, her little brother, frowned back.
“Can I have a cookie, Kristen, PLEASE?” asked Karl.
“Cookies make crumbs and I hate having to clean up after you!” Kristen grumbled. Karl pouted at his big sister.
“I don’t have anything to do.” Karl shouted.
His mouth turned down. He started to whimper. Thunder outside snapped overhead like a giant rubber band had struck the roof. The gloom inside the house deepened between Kristen and her brother. So Kristen turned on the TV and heard the familiar music to “Sesame Street”.
“Kristen!” Karl screamed. “The dog chewed up my green, blue and yellow crayons! Why did the dog do that?”
“I hate dogs!” Kristen shouted as she began cleaning up the mess.
Then suddenly, a voice on television said, “I hate dogs!” Kristen looked up to see if there was an echo in the room. But it was Oscar the Grouch, the outrageous, shaggy, green creature who lives in a trash can whose negative response reflected her every action and statement it would seem. Kristen paused for a moment and watched Oscar as he went about the business of hating any and everything and making everyone around him miserable and uncomfortable. Kristen suddenly felt like she was looking in the mirror at herself. She shifted her eyes to the rain-soaked window then to her little brother desperate for her to do something. Kristen thought there would always be difficult and unpleasant circumstances that she knew she could not change no matter how hard she tried. She did, however, come to realize that she could improve the climate that surrounded them with a few adjustments in her attitude and disposition. Kristen also came to realize that if things were going to get better, it would have to begin with her.
Kristen surprised her little brother with a hug. “How’s ‘bout a cookie Karl?” She said with a big smile.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1857 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Stephen A. Peterson or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1857 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.