SermonStudio

Objects needed: Dinner plate, fork, knife, spoon

Good morning, boys and girls. I want to tell you a make-believe story about something that happened one day at a dinner table. I brought a plate, a spoon, a fork, and a knife to help me.

The table was set very nicely. The spoon, fork, and knife were at their proper places beside the plate. On the plate was a delicious meal of meat, green peas, and a bowl of soup. All of a sudden the spoon stood up and said, "I think Mr. Fork should be asked to leave the table. I won't stay here with him. He is always making noise and sticking and poking the rest of us."

Mr. Fork then stood and said, "Well, if I leave, Mrs. Knife must leave too. She's no good ... you always have to push her and pull her to get her to do any work. She's always cutting others with the mean things she says and does."

Then Mrs. Knife said, "I'm bigger, stronger, and sharper than both of you. I can handle this meal all alone. I don't need the two of you. Why don't you just leave?'

Then wise old Mr. Plate spoke up saying, "My friends, I want to show you something. Mrs. Knife, I want you to eat the peas." The knife tried but the peas kept rolling off. Mrs. Knife was very embarrassed but said, "I guess I need Mr. Fork to pick up the peas for me to eat."

Wise old Mr. Plate then said, "Mr. Fork, I'd like for you to eat the soup." He tried but the soup just ran right through the fork and he was unable to eat it. Mr. Fork then said, "I need Mr. Spoon to help me eat the soup."

Then wise old Mr. Plate said, "Mr. Spoon, I want you to eat the mean." The spoon tried and tried but could not cut up the meat. In embarrassment he said, "I guess I need Mr. Fork to hold the meat and Mr. Knife to cut it up for me."

Finally, wise old Mr. Plate said, "My friends, as different as we all are, we all need each other. If we work together we can enjoy this delicious meal together ... and that is what they did."

Now the FAMILY is very much like this. Each member of the family is different: The brother is different from the sister, the mother is different from the father, and the children are different from the parents, but all members of the family are important and needed.

Each member of the family works hard for the good of the entire family. Perhaps Dad works outside to keep the lawn mowed and the house painted. Maybe Mom cooks the meals and cleans the house. Perhaps you children have your own chores to do - such as picking up your toys and setting the table for meals or emptying the trash.

Everyone in the family is important and needed. When all members work together, there is harmony and happiness in the home. So be sure to do your part at home and be thankful that the rest of the family members do their part as well because all are needed.

[Prayer]