You want to know a little secret: life can be like a bucket of ping-pong balls!
Imagine you have a bucket full of ping-pong balls, and let's pretend that bucket represents your day. Each ping-pong ball you have is a moment of happiness that you get to have in your day. Anytime someone does something wrong - or that you THINK is wrong - and you let it bother you, get on your nerves, upset you, or make your angry or sad...POP! A ping-pong ball disappears!
For example:
Your sister hogs the bathroom in the morning - POP! There goes a ball of happiness! The shirt you really wanted to wear is dirty -POP! Another one gone. The teacher surprises you with a pop quiz - POP! One less ball in your day. Your best friend doesn't save you a seat at lunch - POP! Goodbye ball! You messed up in practice after school - POP! Adios ball! Your mom made broccoli for dinner - DOUBLE POP!You're running out of happiness balls quickly!
One by one, the balls are disappearing, until all your happiness is gone. How can you be happy or help others be happy if your bucket is almost empty?! You can't!! How can you show other people how amazing Jesus is if you're walking around with a frown on your face? You can't!! That's why Paul said, "Be patient and accept each other in love."
That means you don't lose your cool - or your happiness - over every little thing! You can't expect other people to always do what you want or for things to always go your way. You can't expect others to be perfect. After all, chances are you aren't perfect either! Be careful not to empty your bucket over things that don't really matter. Work hard to keep your bucket full so that you have plenty of happiness to share!
* Adapted from Max Lucado's "You Can Count On God" devotions for Kids