Jesus Doesn't Own A Kona Ice Truck

Our family moved in December. Moving is a big change for everyone, but the changes were especially big for our two kids. My daughter is in second-grade and incredibly social. Moving in the middle of the school year meant leaving her friends behind and starting over in a small-town context.

The transition was difficult for her. For the first time in her life she struggled to make friends and even experienced a low-level of bullying. We've since gotten that settled and she's doing much better, but the first 6 weeks of the school year were pretty tough for her.

Recently, her school hosted a Kona Ice Truck (it's your standard shaved-ice situation) event. She spent a whole week talking about it and reminding us to send money so she could get a Kona Ice. The night before the event, I gave her some money with a few extra dollars and instructions to buy a Kona Ice for a friend who either didn't have or forgot to bring their money.

I picked her up at the bus stop the next day and asked if she enjoyed her Kona Ice. After she said that she had, I asked if she had bought a Kona Ice for a friend. "Yes, I bought one for Les*." (not the kid's real name)

"Les?" I wondered. "Isn't Les the kid that was bullying you?"

"Yeah," she replied matter-of-factly.

"Wait, you bought your bully a Kona Ice?" I inquired, somewhat bewildered.

"Yeah," she replied again, then changed the subject.

That evening as I was putting the kids down for bed, I took a minute to point out how big of a deal her action was.

"Ava, I'm really proud that you bought a Kona Ice for Les. It was a very kind, loving thing to do. In fact, I think it's exactly what Jesus would have done."

Enter my 4 year-old. Immediately, he sat up and exclaimed: "Jesus doesn't own a Kona Ice Truck!"

I've recently spoken and written about the Christian life as apologetic. I've proposed that Christian values (loving our enemies, forgiving when we'd rather hold a grudge, sacrificially serving others, etc.) lived out consistently will become the most effective apologetic for the validity of our faith. Now, my 8 year-old daughter is showing me how.

Sometimes faith means buying a Kona Ice for your bully. It means swallowing that thirst for vengeance or justice and honestly leaving that in the hands of God in the hopes that your act of kindness will initiate reconciliation both between an enemy and yourself and that enemy and God.

By the way, Les and Ava are friends now. In fact, Les wants to date Ava... which, ironically, now makes him my enemy.

Guess he'll be getting another Kona Ice soon.