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Nature Notes
Did you know that animals like to play, too? Especially
baby animals! They love to romp and tumble, run and chase. There’s something
different about how animals play, though. Most often, animals prefer to stay
with their own kind and they only play with others of their own kind. Lion
cubs play with their mommy and siblings. Baby horses play with each other.
Baby penguins hang out with other baby penguins.
Dolphins, though, love to play, play, play and they’ll
play with anyone and everyone who is kind! They love other dolphins, they
love fish, they love to play with whales; they even love to play with people!
There are even stories of dolphins helping other animals
and people who have been in trouble when in the ocean waters. Dolphins have
helped other dolphins and whales. Dolphins have helped people swim, navigate
(steer or sail) their boats and stay safe from sharks.
If a dolphin helped you, would you be happy? Would you say
“Thank you”? Would you tell other people how the dolphin had helped you?
Would you be willing to help other people? Sure you would.
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Spiritual
Connection
In the Bible, God has instructed us to accept one another
(Romans
15:7). Jesus wants us to be kind and helpful toward one another (Luke
10:25-37). We are also instructed
to go everywhere, telling people about Jesus and the love of God the Father (Matthew
28:18-20). Even when we are playing, we are to tell our friends and
family about Jesus.
In the Bible, there’s a story about ten men who would not
come near Jesus yet called out to Him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
Jesus indeed had mercy on them and He healed them and made them well (Luke
17:1-19).
All ten men ran off jumping for joy, hooping and
a-hollering for happiness! Only one of the healed lepers came back to say
thank you to Jesus. Isn’t that sad? Jesus thought so. He asked, “Were there
not ten who were healed? But where are the nine?”
If Jesus healed you from being sick, would you be happy?
Would you say “Thank you”? Would you tell other people how Jesus helped you?
Would you be willing to help other people, just as Jesus helped people? Sure
you would.
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Photos & Prints
Dolphins
Helping Others
Dolphins
and Altruism
© Christine Gillan Byrne, 2012. Young Child Ministries,
P.O. Box 27, Ojai, CA 93024 (805) 490-6055. www.youngchildministries.com.
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Closure
Dolphins are very wonderful animals, don’t you think? Who
made the dolphins? Yes, Jesus. And just like the dolphins whom He created, Jesus
is willing to help anyone.
How does Jesus help you every day? Do you think Jesus
created the dolphins to help us learn how to accept and treat each other? What
can you do to help someone else?
Let’s thank Jesus for creating the wonderful dolphins.
Let’s thank Jesus for helping us every day. Let’s also promise Jesus that we
will be accepting and helpful to others today.
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