This Lent, the grown-ups have been learning about the good news Jesus tells us, about loving our neighbors, sharing our stories, and looking for life’s blessings. 

“Tell me something good.” 

Miss Julie said that last week, when she and Mr. Robert went to Trinity for supper and their Lent study, the opening question was, “what is something good in your life?” 

Miss Julie asked me that question. And I had a hard time just coming up with one good thing. It made me feel a lot better when Miss Julie said everyone else did too. 

I wanted to share a few of my best good things with everybody. 

So here goes: 

My first best good thing is outside. Naps in the sun, rolling in the grass, taking walks with Mr. Robert and sometimes Miss Julie. Playing ball or chasing a frisbee on the beach. Playing in the snow this winter. Jumping in rain puddles that get my paws muddy. The breeze fluffing up my fur and ruffling my ears. Grass under my paws and the smell of the dirt when I dig a hole. Birds and bees and squirrels. All the things there are too see and sniff. 

When I am outside, I think I feel Jesus walking beside me, laughing while I chase bugs or throwing a stick for me. Like a friend. 

I think that’s something good. 

My second best good thing is home.  I  remember what it was like not to have one, and how it felt to always be lonely and hungry and scared.  Since Miss Julie and Mr. Robert found me and took me home with them, I am safe and warm and I have enough to eat, a warm bed, and people to love me. I get belly rubs and ear scritches and I have a favorite nap spot. And they  bring me to church, so I have a whole other family of friends and a place to have fun and learn about Jesus.  I know there are lots of people, and animals too, who don’t have a place to be safe and warm, and that makes me sad. It also makes me feel very thankful. With Jesus, everyone has a safe place. He welcomes us all, and I think that’s good news. 

My last best good thing is love.  It’s a good feeling to be loved.  Jesus tells us that we should love our neighbor, and that if we don’t we are not loving him. When we hurt someone else, we hurt him. I think we should stop being mean to each other. We know it’s the right thing, but we don’t always do the right thing. Jesus tells us to love everyone, not just the people who look like us or think like us, but all our neighbors. The best good news ever would be if everyone remembered that and treated other people with love. 

I think these are important good things. Life is full of good things, like hot dogs, and music, and butterflies, and laughing together. Hugs and birthdays and smiles. 

I bet you have a bunch of your own best good things. 

There are lots of bad things in the world, but maybe we’d all be happier if we thought less about them, and more about the good ones. 

The good news.