The sky was turning dark blue.

The sun had gone to sleep behind the hills.
The moon was waking up, big and round, like a glowing night-light in the sky.
Tiny stars began to sparkle — blink, blink, blink — as if they were whispering, “Good evening.”

Inside a warm home, Daddy and Jacob were finishing their day.

Jacob had just taken a bath.
His hair was still a little wet.
He wore soft pajamas with little dinosaurs on them.

Daddy sat in a comfy chair in Jacob’s room.
Jacob sat on the floor, pushing a toy truck back and forth.

Vrrr… vrrr… vrrr…

But something was different tonight.

Jacob was not making his usual happy engine noises.
His truck was moving slowly.
His eyebrows were squeezed together.

Daddy noticed.

“Hey, buddy,” Daddy said softly. “Your truck sounds tired tonight.”

Jacob shrugged. “I’m not playing.”

Daddy tilted his head. “Oh? Then what are you doing?”

Jacob pushed the truck harder.

“I’m thinking.”

Daddy nodded. Thinking is important work.

After a moment, Daddy asked gently, “Do you want to tell me what you’re thinking about?”

Jacob didn’t answer right away.

He pushed the truck again.

Vrrr… stop.
Vrrr… stop.

Finally Jacob whispered, “I don’t like Liam.”

Daddy’s voice stayed calm. “Liam from school?”

Jacob nodded.

Daddy leaned forward a little. “What happened?”

Jacob’s face scrunched up.

“He took my blue crayon. The shiny one. And he wouldn’t give it back.”

Daddy nodded slowly. “That must have felt upsetting.”

Jacob’s voice got louder. “It WAS!”

Jacob grabbed his truck tightly.

“And then he colored on MY paper!”

Daddy could see Jacob’s eyes getting shiny.
Not tears yet… but big feelings.

Jacob whispered, “He ruined it.”

Daddy opened his arms a little. “Come here, buddy.”

Jacob climbed into Daddy’s lap, still holding the truck.

Daddy wrapped one arm around him — gentle, warm, safe.

After a quiet moment, Jacob said something very strong.

“I don’t like Liam.”

Daddy nodded. “That’s okay to feel.”

Jacob said it louder.
“I don’t want to play with him anymore.”

Daddy listened.

Then Jacob said the strongest words of all:

“I HATE him.”

The room felt very still.

Daddy did not gasp.
He did not scold.
He did not look angry.

Daddy just held Jacob close.

After a moment, Daddy spoke softly.

“Those are very big feelings, buddy.”

Jacob buried his face in Daddy’s shoulder.
“I mean it.”

Daddy rubbed Jacob’s back slowly.

“I can tell you’re hurting.”

Jacob whispered, “He was mean.”

Daddy nodded. “Yes. Taking things is not kind.”

Jacob looked up. “So it’s okay to hate him.”

Daddy shook his head gently.

“No, buddy. God doesn’t want us to hate anyone.”

Jacob frowned. “Why not?”

Daddy smiled softly. “Because hate hurts your heart.”

Jacob touched his chest. “My heart?”

Daddy nodded. “Yes. Hate is like carrying a heavy rock inside.”

Jacob thought about that.

“My tummy does feel heavy.”

Daddy said, “That’s because your heart is hurting.”

Jacob whispered, “Can God fix it?”

Daddy smiled warmly. “God is very good at fixing hearts.”

Jacob leaned against him. “How?”

Daddy said, “First, we tell God the truth.”

Jacob blinked. “The truth?”

Daddy nodded. “You can say, ‘God, I feel mad.’”

Jacob whispered, “God… I feel mad.”

Daddy said, “Good job.”

Daddy continued, “Then you ask God to help.”

Jacob said quietly, “God… help me.”

Daddy smiled. “Perfect.”

Jacob’s breathing slowed a little.

Daddy asked gently, “Do you know what Jesus tells us to do when someone is mean?”

Jacob shook his head.

Daddy said softly, “Jesus tells us to love people… even when they are not kind.”

Jacob’s eyes widened. “Even Liam?”

Daddy nodded. “Yes. Even Liam.”

Jacob looked unsure. “But he took my crayon.”

Daddy said, “Loving someone doesn’t mean what they did was okay. It just means we don’t hate them.”

Jacob thought about that.

“So I can still be sad?”

“Of course,” Daddy said. “Sad is okay. Angry is okay. But hate is not what God wants for us.”

Jacob whispered, “What does God want?”

Daddy smiled. “God wants your heart to feel light… not heavy.”

Jacob leaned back and sighed.

Daddy asked, “Can we try a heart exercise?”

Jacob nodded slowly.

Daddy said, “Step one: Take a slow breath.”

They breathed in together… and out.

“Step two,” Daddy said, “tell God exactly how you feel.”

Jacob whispered, “I’m mad and sad.”

“Good,” Daddy said.

“Step three: Ask God to help you love.”

Jacob hesitated… then said, “Help me not hate Liam.”

Daddy squeezed him gently. “That was brave.”

Jacob asked quietly, “What if I still don’t like him?”

Daddy smiled. “You don’t have to like what he did. But you can still choose kindness.”

Jacob thought for a moment.

“Maybe… he didn’t have a blue crayon.”

Daddy nodded. “Maybe.”

Jacob continued, “Or maybe he forgot to ask.”

Daddy said, “Sometimes kids are still learning.”

Jacob’s face softened a little.

Daddy asked, “Do you think Liam might feel sad sometimes too?”

Jacob whispered, “Maybe.”

Daddy said, “God loves Liam too.”

Jacob leaned into Daddy again.

“God loves me… and Liam?”

“Yes,” Daddy said. “God loves everyone.”

Jacob was quiet.

Then he said something very small:

“I don’t want to hate.”

Daddy smiled warmly. “That makes God very happy.”

Jacob asked, “What should I do tomorrow?”

Daddy said, “You can tell Liam kindly, ‘That made me sad. Please ask before using my things.’”

Jacob practiced softly, “That made me sad.”

Daddy nodded. “Perfect.”

Jacob yawned.

A big sleepy yawn.

Daddy stood up and carried Jacob to his bed.

He tucked the blanket around him — snug and warm.

Daddy sat beside the bed and brushed Jacob’s hair back.

Jacob’s eyes were getting heavy now.

“Daddy?”

“Yes, buddy?”

“Can we pray for Liam?”

Daddy’s heart felt full.

“Of course.”

Daddy bowed his head.

“Dear God,
Thank You for loving Jacob.
Thank You for loving Liam.
Please help Liam learn to be kind.
Please help Jacob forgive.
Fill Jacob’s heart with peace and love.
Amen.”

Jacob whispered, “Amen.”

The room was quiet now.

Soft night-light glowing.
Stars twinkling through the window.

Jacob’s breathing slowed.

“Daddy?” he murmured.

“Yes?”

“I feel better.”

Daddy smiled. “That’s God helping your heart.”

Jacob whispered, “God doesn’t want me to hate.”

“That’s right,” Daddy said softly. “God wants you to love.”

Jacob smiled sleepily.

“God loves me… and Liam… and everybody.”

“Yes,” Daddy whispered.

Daddy kissed Jacob’s forehead.

“Goodnight, buddy.”

“Goodnight, Daddy.”

Daddy turned off the lamp and walked quietly to the door.

As he looked back, Jacob was already drifting into sleep.

Peaceful.
Safe.
Loved.

Because God loved him.
And God was helping his heart grow kind and strong.

And God loves you, too.

Always.

💛 The End 💛

© Copyright 2026 Kids Corner Of Faith