The Story of Sarah’s Vase (1)
Sarah’s parents were new to town, and she was getting to know her classmates at church. As a second grader, she was full of energy and beaming with naughtiness. As Sarah’s Sunday school teacher, my wife provided me with a limitless supply of funny stories – Monday night dinner was usually served with Sarah’s latest antics. Everyone at church seemed to like her. She was simply an easy kid to fall in love with. One Sunday, my wife had prepared a lesson on being useful. She taught the children that everyone can be useful – that usefulness is serving God, and that doing so is worthy of honour. The kids quietly absorbed my wife’s words, and as the lesson ended, there was a brief moment of silence. Then Sarah spoke up. “Teacher, what can I do?” I don’t know how to do too many useful things.” Not anticipating that kind of response, my wife quickly looked around and spotted an empty flower vase on the windowsill. “Sarah, you can bring in a flower and put it in the vase. That would be a useful thing.” Sarah frowned. “But that’s not important.” “It is,” replied my wife, “if you are helping someone.” Sure enough, the next Sunday, Sarah brought in a dandelion and placed it in the vase. In fact, she
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