The Rope Across the Path

A loose rope lay across the path after the children finished a game. Max saw it as he carried a basket of balls toward the shed. He stepped over it and kept walking.

Near the gate, Mrs. Bell was coming toward the garden with a tray of cups. The tray blocked her view of the ground. Max remembered the rope. He could have called a warning and hoped she heard, but he was close enough to help.

He set the basket down safely, walked back, and moved the rope away from the path. Mrs. Bell saw what he was doing and thanked him. Max rolled the rope neatly and placed it with the other games before returning to the balls.

When the children gathered for a drink, nobody tripped over anything. The path looked ordinary again, so most of them never knew there had been a problem. Max sat with his friends and enjoyed his juice.

Later the leader asked everyone to check that the garden was ready before they went home. Max looked along the whole path instead of checking only the space beside his own feet.

God's Word tells us to do the good that is within our reach. We do not have to wait for a large or exciting job before helping someone. Max had seen a small need, set down his own task for a moment, and made the next person's way safer.