Shining With Joy

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, August 9.

By Andrew McChesney

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ou might think that this is the story of a mom who took her son to church. But it is actually the story of a son who took his mom to church.

Are you confused? Let me explain!

A little boy named Haachile started going to church in Botswana every Sabbath when he was 3. His mom took him to church in the morning, left him there, and then brought him home in the afternoon.

Mom didn’t belong to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. But Haachile’s grandma was an Adventist, and she told Mom that the little boy should go to church on Sabbaths.

So, Mom took Haachile to church every Sabbath when he was 3. She took him when he was 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. She took him when he was 11 and 12. Every Sabbath, he returned home with his face shining with joy. He loved worshiping God in church!

But one Sabbath, Haachile came home with a sad face. He felt sad being at church alone. “Mom, every Sabbath I sit with other families for lunch,” he said. “Why don’t you want to come to my church so I can show people that I also have a family?”

Then Mom felt sad. She wanted to be a good mother who cared for her son. But now her son looked like an orphan who had to go from family to family to eat lunch every Sabbath.

So, Mom prepared a big lunch and went with Haachile to church the next Sabbath.

Haachile was thrilled! He called over all his friends and even the pastor.

“Come and see my mom!” he said. “Come and eat with us! My mom has prepared enough food for all of us!”

Haachile’s friends came over to see his mom. The families who had fed Haachile for many Sabbaths came over to see his mom. Even the pastor came over to see his mom.

Haachile’s face was shining with joy. It was the best Sabbath ever!

But Mom still felt sad. She could see that her son was lonely in church.

So, the next Sabbath, she prepared another big lunch and went again with Haachile to church.

Haachile was so happy! His smile spread from ear to ear.

After that, Mom went to church every Sabbath.

A short time later, Haachile decided to give his heart to Jesus. He invited Mom to come and watch his baptism. Mom saw the boy come up out of the water. His face was shining with joy.

At that moment, a desire was planted in her heart to have the same joy. The Bible says that joy is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23; NKJV). When people are filled with the Holy Spirit, they have joy.

Mom decided to give her heart to Jesus, and she was baptized in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

So, you might have thought that this was the story of a mom who took her son to church. But it was actually the story of a son who took his mom to church. And as the joy of the Spirit spread in his family, Haachile also ended up taking his dad and all his siblings to church. Today, the whole family joyfully worships God on Sabbath.

Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter will teach children about joy in Botswana and in the other countries of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division. Part of the offering will be used to make a series of short videos about the fruit of the Spirit. Thank you for planning a generous offering on September 27.