Other people can do things that hurt us and cause us to feel angry at them. When other people hurt us, we may feel like hurting them back. Herby pretends he is a knight on a quest to slay a dragon—er, the neighborhood cat—who often pounces on him and causes him much trouble.
When someone hurts you or does something that makes you mad, do you ever feel like treating them badly or staying angry with them? What would happen if you forgave them instead? Have you ever done something wrong and needed other people to forgive you?
Forgiving others doesn’t mean that what they did was right and that you shouldn’t protect yourself from being harmed. But it does mean that you choose not to stay mad at them or hate them, and that you stop punishing or hurting them in return. When we don’t forgive, we only make things worse—mostly for ourselves! Those feelings can control us and keep us from enjoying life. Forgive other people who hurt you, just like you need other people to forgive you when you do wrong things, and you won’t look at them as “foul beasts” to be slayed.
When circumstances aren’t what we’d like them to be, we may feel unhappy, discouraged, and rather like complaining about them. Maybe the weather isn’t to your liking, you want something that you can’t have, or you wish your life was different. Sometimes it may even seem that there are so many bad things that happen, it can be hard to be glad about anything. Herby notices that even though there can often be plenty to complain about, there is still a way to be happy.
Do you ever feel like complaining about how bad things are? What good things can you be thankful for instead? How does it feel when you are grateful for these things?
Be thankful for the good things in your life. Even when it is hard to see anything good, keep looking, because you are sure to find something you can be thankful for. When we appreciate the good things in our lives and thank others for the good things they do for us, it makes us happier and healthier, it enables us to overcome problems, and it helps those around us. The extra effort it takes to be thankful will be “worth it.”
You may find yourself getting discouraged when you try to do something but fail at it. Maybe you’re scared to do something because you’re afraid you might fail, or you’re trying so hard to do it just right that you never actually step out and do it. Jeremy is discouraged because he struck out in his baseball game, but Herby reminds him that it’s okay to fail, and that stepping out and doing it, even if you don’t do it just right, is the only way to get good at it.
Are there times when you fail at something or are afraid that you might not do something just right? How do you feel when this happens? How would you feel if you knew failing was just a chance to get better at it?
It’s okay if you don’t do something perfectly. Just do what you can! With practice, you will get better at it. Don’t be discouraged, even if other people think you are bad or make fun of you for making mistakes. Failure is just part of the journey to success, and “that’s okay.”
Other people can often benefit from something we have. We can give or share with them something that belongs to us, like a toy, a game, a book, food or money. We could share something we are good at, a skill or talent like art, music, sports, building things, or knowledge. We can even share a smile, our time, and ourselves with others, by being a friend and letting them be a friend to us. Herby and Jeremy are enjoying sharing their tree house with some friends.
What kinds of things have other people given or shared with you before? How did it feel when they shared with you? How can you share what you have with others?
Sharing what we have with other people not only can help them, but it helps us, too. We feel better when we make other people a part of our lives. If someone shares something with you, be thankful and respectful of what they share. Think about others around you and what you can give and share with them, because our lives are “more fun when they’re shared.”
Unfortunately, sometimes people hurt each other. Sometimes they don’t mean to, but sometimes they do. Maybe you’ve seen a bully being mean to someone else and hurting their feelings, or maybe someone has hurt you. It could have even been someone you care about. You may sometimes feel like Herby, who is being attacked by a neighborhood cat that is not interested in leaving him alone and letting him have his space!
When people are mean and hurt you, how do you feel? What should you do when they hurt you? Have you ever hurt others yourself?
When someone does something to hurt someone else or their feelings, that is wrong. Everybody needs space to be safe, respected and loved. If someone wants to hurt you, remember that they need to be loved too, but they should not hurt you. If you aren’t able to stand up to them yourself, get some help from friends and people you trust. Never be a bully yourself. With help you can protect yourself and stop hurtful people from invading your “personal space.”
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