The Nail and the Toothpick

Several boys on Diego's street were at it again, making fun of people in the neighborhood. Diego stood there, hating it all, but saying nothing. "Do you get it?" asked one of the boys when Diego didn't laugh at his joke about an elderly woman who lived nearby.Diego swallowed hard. "I have to go." He sighed as he walked away. Why didn't I tell them I don't like how they talk about people? he thought. It's not easy being the only Christian kid in the neighborhood. Diego was so wrapped up in his own thoughts he didn't see Pastor Barros until he smacked right into him. "Oh, sorry!" said Diego."Where are you going in such a hurry?" asked the pastor, who was fixing the fence in his yard."Nowhere--just getting away from the guys." Diego hesitated. "It's really hard to stand up to others all by yourself.""Yes, it is." Pastor Barros took a toothpick from his pocket. "You're like this toothpick. Here--see if you can break it."Diego took the toothpick and broke it easily. "You mean I'm weak--not strong enough to say anything, right?" He sighed. "Yeah, I know I am.""Oh, but look." Pastor Barros took a nail from his toolbox and held it out with another toothpick. "Hold the nail alongside the toothpick and see if you can you break them.""I can't do that!" said Diego. "I'd have to break the nail. That's impossible!""Well," said the pastor, "like I said, you're like a toothpick--but you're like the toothpick with the nail beside it."Diego frowned. "But who's like the nail then? My parents? Or you? I'd feel much stronger with one of you around, but you're not always there.""No," said Pastor Barros, "but Jesus is. Trust Him to help you. He's always there to give you the strength you need to do the right thing and treat others with love and kindness, even when you're the only one doing it."Diego looked at the nail. "Yeah, I guess you're right!""You know, I gave this same lesson to Lucas Cardoso yesterday," said Pastor Barros."Lucas?" asked Diego. "He lives just a few houses down from me."Pastor Barros nodded. "He's having trouble with the other boys too. You see, Lucas thinks he's the only Christian in the neighborhood."-Mary Rose Pearson