sacred story time (changing your mind)

Last time, Pooh began his plan to get the honey from the bees, but there was a problem. This week, Pooh decides he’s had enough.

As we read this week’s passage, I hope you’ll take some time to wonder about what happens when we are wrong about something and how it feels to admit that, especially to the people around us. Come play, pray, and wonder with me.

"Christopher—ow!—Robin," called out the cloud.

"Yes?"

"I have just been thinking, and I have come to a very important decision. These are the wrong sort of bees."

"Are they?"

"Quite the wrong sort. So I should think they would make the wrong sort of honey, shouldn't you?"

"Would they?"

"Yes. So I think I shall come down."

"How?" asked Christopher Robin.

Winnie-the-Pooh hadn't thought about this. If he let go of the string, he would fall—bump—and he didn't like the idea of that. So he thought for a long time, and then he said:

"Christopher Robin, you must shoot the balloon with your toy gun. Have you got it with you?"

"I do," Christopher Robin said. "But if I do that, it will spoil the balloon.”

"But if you don't," said Pooh, "I shall have to let go, and that would spoil me."

When he put it like this, Christopher Robin saw how it was, and aimed very carefully at the balloon, and fired.

"Ow!" said Pooh.

"Did I miss?" Christopher Robin asked.

"You didn't exactly miss," said Pooh, "but you missed the balloon."

"I'm so sorry," Christopher Robin said, and tried again, and this time he hit the balloon, and the air came slowly out, and Winnie-the-Pooh floated down to the ground.

But his arms were so stiff from holding on to the string of the balloon all that time that they stayed up straight in the air for more than a week, and whenever a fly came and settled on his nose he had to blow it off. And I think—but I am not sure—that that is why he was always called Pooh.

Noticing Prompt

When was the last time you were wrong about something? Or changed your mind about something you used to believe? How did that make you feel? How did it make the people around you feel? Do you find it hard to admit when you are wrong? If so, why?

Play Prompt

Draw a face on an empty balloon and then blow it up to different sizes. Watch how the face changes! Then let the balloon go and watch it zoom around! How far can you get it to travel?

Imagination Prompt

If you could give yourself any name, what would it be and why?

Prayer

Unchanging God, keep my mind on you and your ways. Let me not be easily offended or always think I know what is best. Help me walk the path of humility.

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