“Be ye kind, one unto another.  Tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”

Barabas was rushing to finish his breakfast so he could ride his bike over to Sam’s house.  They found a big cardboard box from a neighbor’s new refrigerator and they are making it into a fort. 

“I reckon you need to feed Jeter and make sure he has done his business out back before you go.” said Uncle Floyd.   “I’m off to Mrs. Potato Head’s for a few hours.  Be home before lunch.”

Barabas quickly finished his oatmeal and put his dishes in the sink and put the milk back in the refrigerator.  He brushed his teeth and checked in the mirror to see if he is still handsome. Yep!  He made sure he closed the garage door after he got his bike out.  He waved as he passed Uncle Floyd in his truck as he rode down the street to Sam’s.  What a beautiful day to play in a big cardboard box in the back yard!

They had a wonderful time.  They cut some skinny archer windows in the box and pretended to have bows and arrows to shoot the enemy.  On the inside of the box they hung a piece of cloth to make two rooms.  And they got some of Sam’s toys from his bedroom to use in their fort.  What fun!

Then Sam had the idea to use the garden hose to pretend it was raining. 

“I think the water will ruin the box.” said Barabas.  “No!  It will be fun to have rain!” said Sam as he got out the sprinkler and turned it on. 

“Turn it off!  The cardboard is getting soggy!” said Barabas.  “No! This is fun!” said Sam.  The water rained down from above and Sam danced and danced in the rain!  Sam was having the best time. 

Barabas watched grimly as the cardboard got more and more soggy.  The side wall caved in first, then the roof fell in and finally the whole fort collapsed in a soggy heap.  Their fort was gone.  Barabas was angry at Sam.

“I told you not to do that!”  “I’m sorry.” Said Sam as he looked at what used to be the fort.  “I’m going home!” said Barabas in a nasty tone of voice.  As he rode his bike down the street, he was fuming at Sam.  “He ruined our fort.  And he looked stupid when he danced in the water.”  Barabas was not being forgiving.  All he could think about was how angry he was with Sam.

Uncle Floyd was pulling his truck into the driveway just as Barabas got home.  They walked into the kitchen together and everything changed.  There was a mess on the kitchen floor.  It was dog throw-up.  And the kitchen trash can was tipped over.  “Jeter!” shouted Uncle Floyd.  “You get in here right now!  You have perfectly good food and you do NOT need to get into the trash can!”  Uncle Floyd was angry with the dog.  Then he stomped over to the sink and stepped right into a big pile of . . . dog poop! 

Barabas knew, he knew it was all his fault.  He closed his eyes and wished he was invisible.  Then he said in a very small voice “I’m sorry.  I forgot to feed him and let him out before I went to Sam’s house.”

Uncle Floyd looked at Barabas for a moment, took off his shoes and then said in a very controlled voice “First, I reckon you need to apologize to that poor dog.  Second, I expect you to clean up this mess.  Third, come to me when you are done and we will talk about responsibility.”

Barabas got the paper towels and a bag and started the distasteful job of cleaning dog throw-up and dog poop off the kitchen floor.  Barabas was really sorry for what happened.

What happened next was like God sending a message to Barabas.  What happened next?  Jeter came over and licked Barabas’s face and he wagged his tail.  That is a dog’s way of saying “I forgive you.”

In the forgiveness of his dog, Barabas knew that he needed to forgive Sam.

(Camp song to sing)

“Be ye kind, one unto another.  Tenderhearted, forgiving one another.
Even as God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.
Too, too, toddle lee doo
Ephesians 4:32
Amen!”

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