“Annie wake up! Annie wake up! Grandpa is coming today!” little Max shouts as he jumps on his older sister´s bed.
“Max! Let me sleep, I was having the best dream ever!” Annie pulls her pink pillow over her head.
“How can you sleep when Grandpa is coming?”
Max pulls the flowered curtains aside to let some light into the room. Then skips out of the room happily.
A few minutes later, Annie and Max eat a yummy healthy breakfast and the get ready for school.
“Mommy, do we have to go to school today? What if Grandpa comes and doesn´t find us?” Max asks while putting his school bag on.
“He will be here waiting Max,” Mother answers with a kind smile, “now let´s pray before we leave.”
School seemed to never end, the hours passed slowly for Annie and Max. Grandpa came to visit once every month, and his valuable lessons always captivated their minds. Finally, school was over, and they both ran all the way home.
“Grandpa! Grandpa!” they shouted sounding like a choir as they burst through the door.
“Hello my dear little ones!” Grandpa chuckled as he opened his arms to embrace his grandchildren.
Soon they found themselves around the kitchen table as the aroma of their grandfather’s famous delicious vegetable soup came up from each bowl. Annie and Max awaited each visit eagerly for this moment. Annie said grace, and right away, in went the spoons, but this time, something was not right, and as everyone slowly swallowed, everyone made eye contact.
“Um, Grandpa, the soup, it tastes… different,” Annie said trying to be as kind as can be.
“Yes, Grandpa, something is missing, something very important,” Max added.
“Hmm, you both are right! I forgot to add salt!” Grandpa said as he scratched his head. “You know, this reminds me of something Jesus said.” He smiled as he reached over the kitchen counter for the table salt.
“Grandpa tell us! Tell us!” Annie and Max excitedly shouted.
Grandpa chuckled, “of course I will tell you,” he said. “Jesus was teaching the people of how important it was to be different in the world. Many times, good actions, like being courteous, loving, helpful, and kind are lacking. This takes away the delicious flavour of life and of being a child of God; just like this soup, though filled with delicious vegetables, is in need of salt to make it tasty.”
“So Jesus wants us to be like salt, Grandpa?” asked Annie.
“Yes, Annie, we are to be the salt of the world,” Grandpa smiled, “and now, for the challenge of the month, find where in the Bible Jesus speaks about salt.”
“Yes! I love challenges!” shouted Max excitedly, as he jumped out of his seat.
“Oh no, just wait a minute, little one,” laughed Grandpa, “let´s finish our soup, but this time let´s add a little salt.”