The Blue Chalk Line
Written for Bible Journey Plan. Our editorial standards.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9 KJV
This is an original fictional illustration, not a historical report or an added Bible event.
Ben drew a blue line across the sidewalk. His sister's chalk house had reached the edge of his chalk road, and he wanted her to move it. She folded her arms. Neither child was having much fun anymore.
Grandpa sat on the step and listened. Ben finally noticed that his sister's house had no way to reach the road. He rubbed out one corner and drew a little driveway. She moved her flower garden to make room for his bridge.
They both had something to change. Making peace did not mean that one child got everything. It meant they stopped treating each other like enemies. When Grandma called them inside, two chalk bicycles stood together beside the little house. Jesus teaches His people to make peace, and Ben had found a small place to begin.
A small step for today
You can help a quarrel become calmer. Speak kindly and do not carry mean words from one child to another. If the problem is too big, ask a trusted grown-up to help. Making peace does not mean hiding a wrong thing. It means helping people deal with the truth in a fair and caring way.
For the grown-up reading along
Jesus describes the character of those who belong to His kingdom. Making peace does not earn adoption into God's family, and peace never requires calling evil good.
Read the KJV passage aloud. Explain unfamiliar words in ordinary language without changing the quotation.
Read further: Matthew 5 in the King James Bible.