Have you ever been playing tag at recess, and somebody tags you way too hard? Ouch! Or maybe someone took the exact toy you were playing with without even asking. Moments like that can instantly ruin a fun day and make you feel angry, frustrated, or sad inside. It’s super easy to want to get payback or act mean right back to them.

But Jesus gives us a total life hack for making our friendships, families, and classrooms awesome! Instead of treating people based on how they treated us, Jesus calls us to treat people the way we want to be treated. When we choose kindness, fairness, and love—even when others aren’t being very nice—we show everyone around us what God’s big love looks like in real life.

Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”

So, what does this actually look like in your daily life? It means if you like it when people share their video games or sports equipment with you, you should be the first one to share yours! If you like it when people say encouraging words when you make a mistake, you should cheer on your classmates and siblings when they mess up. It also means stopping yourself before saying something mean, and asking yourself: “Would I want someone to say that to me?”

Here is your mini-challenge for this week: whenever you feel upset or tempted to react, pause and use the “Mirror Rule.” Ask yourself, “How would I want to be treated right now?” Choosing to be kind first isn’t always easy, but every time you choose kindness, you are winning at being a true friend and showing the world Jesus’ heart!

Talk About It

  1. What is the absolute silliest or funniest rule your family could make for one whole day?
  2. What is the main Bible truth Jesus gives us in Luke 6:31, and what is it usually called?
  3. Can you think of a time when someone treated you super kindly at school or home? How did that make you feel inside?
  4. When a sibling or classmate is being super annoying or unkind, why is it so hard to treat them nicely, and how can Jesus help you in that moment?
  5. What is one specific way your family can practice the “Mirror Rule” together at home this week?