The Little Brother's Button

Archie was ready to leave for the park. His little brother sat on the bottom stair trying to fasten a large button. Every time he pushed it toward the hole, the fabric slipped from his fingers.

Archie bounced the ball against his knee and told him to hurry. The little boy tried harder and began to cry. Mother was finding the house keys, and the park was not going anywhere, but Archie felt as though waiting would spoil the whole afternoon.

He put the ball on the floor and sat beside his brother. First he showed him how to hold the edge of the coat. Then he guided the button halfway through and let the small fingers finish the push.

They tried the next button together. It took longer than Archie doing it alone, but his brother smiled when it slipped into place. Mother found the keys just as they reached the final button.

At the park, Archie watched his brother run toward the small slide. The coat stayed closed, and the boy proudly showed Mother the button he had finished himself.

Kindness sometimes gives another person time to learn. The Bible tells God's people to put on patience and gentleness. Those qualities can be seen in the way we sit beside someone who is slower than we are. Archie still had a whole afternoon to play, and his brother began it feeling helped instead of hurried.