Bothersome Bushes and Surprising Samaritans

“May I go ride my bike?” Justin asked his mom.

“After you gather your dirty laundry,” Mom replied.

Justin sighed. “Okay.” As he trudged to his room, the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it!” he shouted while peeking out the window. It was Matt, Justin’s neighbor from across the street. Justin opened the door. “Hi, Matt.”

“Is your mom home? I got a scraped elbow, but my brother, Craig, won’t help me ’cause he’s playing his video game, and my mom’s at work.” Matt held his arm close.

“Sure, come in,” said Justin. “Mom, will you come here, please?”

Justin’s mom came into the living room. “Oh, hello, Matt. Is something wrong?” she asked.

Matt grimaced as he carefully shifted his arm and showed her his sore elbow. “Oh dear, let’s get that cleaned up for you.” Mom led Matt into the other room and gently cleaned his injured arm. “There you go—all better.”

“Thanks,” said Matt. “You remind me of the guy we talked about in church last Sunday.”

“Really? Who was that?” asked Justin’s mom.

“The good sam—something.” Matt couldn’t remember the word.

“You mean the good Samaritan,” Justin chimed in.

“Yeah, that’s the guy,” Matt agreed.

“Well, thank you,” said Justin’s mom. “He showed a good example of helping his neighbor, even though the man he helped probably didn’t think of him as a neighbor.”

“But I like you, Mrs. Peterson. You’re a great neighbor!” Matt jumped down from the stool he sat on. “Thanks for helping me.”

“You’re very welcome, Matt. Why don’t you boys go outside and ride your bikes?” Justin’s mom suggested.

“Yay!” shouted Justin. “I put my laundry by the washing machine.”

“Perfect,” Mom said as she shooed the boys out the door.

Justin and Matt climbed onto their bicycles and rode around the driveway and up and down the sidewalk. They were having a great time pretending to be racecar drivers. Justin’s bike buzzed along— he was winning the race—when suddenly his bike tire hit a rock! Justin flew off his bike and landed— smack—right in the middle of a bush.

Matt screeched to a stop and leaped off his bike. “Justin! Are you okay? I’ll go get your mom!” In a panic, Matt turned and raced straight to Justin’s house.

“I’m okay,” Justin said. “I think.” Justin tried to scoot himself out of the bush, but the branches held on to him and grabbed at his clothes. He shifted this way and that and was about to give up when he heard a voice behind him.

“Whoa! You okay?”

Justin thought he had heard that voice before, but he couldn’t see who was talking. Justin replied, “Yeah, I think I’m okay. I just can’t get up ’cause this bush won’t let go.”

“Here, let me help,” said the voice.

Justin felt large hands underneath his arms, pulling until he was finally lifted from the bothersome bush. Justin brushed at the leaves that still clung to him. “Thanks a lot!” he exclaimed. “You’re sure a good—” Justin looked up, “—Samaritan.” Justin stared in surprise at the boy who had shown him kindness. It was Craig, Matt’s big brother!

Justin stepped forward to pick up his bent bicycle. “Ow!” he yelped.

“What’s wrong?” asked Craig.

“I don’t know. It hurts to walk.” Justin winced in pain.

“Here,” said Craig, “climb on my back, and I’ll carry you.” Craig turned around and kneeled down so Justin could climb onto his back. “Ready?”

Justin held on tightly as he rode piggyback to his house. Just as they reached the front door, Matt was coming out with Justin’s mom right behind him. “Justin!” Mom cried. “Are you okay?”

“He said his foot hurts, and he’s got some scrapes from the bush,” Craig reported as he put Justin down on the living room sofa.

“Phew!” Mom sighed. “I’m so glad you’re all right. But you better not walk on that ankle for a while.”

“I’m just glad to be out of that bothersome bush!” Justin exclaimed. “I couldn’t even move until Craig came and pulled me out.”

Justin’s mom turned to Matt’s brother. “Thank you, Craig. Matt came and told me just as I was giving Ellie her bath, so I couldn’t come right away. I’m so glad you stopped to help.”

“Yeah,” said Matt, “you beat us to it. You were the good Samaritan this time.”

“The good what?” Craig asked.

“Samaritan,” said Justin. “He was a guy in a story Jesus told who helped someone that he didn’t even know, like you helped me. And I’m sure glad you did.”

“Well, to tell you the truth,” Craig explained, “I felt kinda bad for not helping Matt with his scraped elbow. I was looking for him when I saw you.”

“We’re very thankful for what you did,” said Justin’s mom. “We may already be neighbors because we live on the same street, but God is pleased when we’re good neighbors by helping others the best we can.”

“Hey, Mom,” said Justin, “I’m kinda hungry.”

Mom stood up. “How about some goodies for our good Samaritans, Matt and Craig?”

The two boys smiled and nodded and started toward the kitchen when they heard Justin squawk at them from the sofa, “What about me, your hungry patient?”

Craig smiled and walked back to the sofa. He bent down, and Justin climbed on his back. Then they all went to the kitchen in search of a snack.

Download Coloring Page