Kindness – Godly Parenting Tips

The Sandwich That Refused To Share

Sammy the talking sandwich learns that sharing can bring joy to others in this fun Christian children’s story about generosity, kindness and giving.

The Story

In a little kitchen on Maple Street lived a very unusual sandwich.

His name was Sammy.

And Sammy thought he was absolutely wonderful.

“Look at me!” he said proudly. “I am the best sandwich in the whole kitchen!”

One afternoon, a little girl named Timi came home from school feeling very hungry.

Her mother had prepared Sammy for her lunch.

Timi picked up the plate.

“Mmm! This looks delicious.”

Just then, Timi’s little brother came into the kitchen.

“Timi, may I have a little piece?” he asked.

Sammy the sandwich gasped.

“A piece? Absolutely not!”

Sammy the sandwich proudly sitting on a plate while a little boy politely asks for a piece

Timi looked around.

“Did you hear something?”

“No,” said her brother.

Sammy whispered, “I heard everything!”

Her brother asked again, “Please, Timi?”

Sammy shouted, “NO SHARING!”

Timi laughed.

“That sandwich must be talking!”

Sammy folded his lettuce proudly.

“Of course I’m talking. And I have decided that I belong to Timi alone!”

Timi smiled and said, “It’s my lunch, Sammy. But I can choose to share some with my brother.”

Sammy shook his tomato slices.

“But I don’t want to be shared!”

So Timi took a bite.

“Crunch!”

Sammy frowned.

“Well, at least I still have plenty left.”

Timi took another bite.

“Crunch!”

Sammy looked worried.

Then Timi broke off a small piece and gave it to her brother.

A little girl happily giving her younger brother a small piece of sandwich

“Here you go.”

Her brother smiled.

“Thank you!”

Sammy was surprised.

“Wait! You shared me!”

“Yes,” said Timi. “And look how happy it made him.”

Sammy looked at the little boy’s happy face.

For the first time, he began to wonder if having everything to himself was really the best thing.

Then something funny happened.

Her brother brought over his own apple.

“Timi, you shared your sandwich with me. Would you like some of my apple?”

Timi smiled.

Sammy smiled too.

“Hmm,” he said. “Maybe sharing doesn’t make you lose everything. Maybe it gives everyone a chance to enjoy something together.”

By the time lunch was over, Sammy was gone.

But his lesson remained.

Illustration 1: Sammy the sandwich proudly sitting on a plate while a little boy politely asks for a piece, the sandwich looking comically shocked, bright cozy kitchen, expressive children’s picture-book style, no text.

And whenever Timi had something she could share, she remembered Sammy and asked herself, “Who can I bless with what I have?”

And always remember Jesus Love You.

What We Can Learn

Sharing can bring joy to others.
Generosity helps us think beyond ourselves.
We can be thankful for what we have and still make room for others.
Small acts of sharing can make a big difference.

A Teaching Point for Parents

Sharing is a character quality that develops with practice. Children do not need to be forced to surrender every personal possession, but they can be taught to recognize appropriate opportunities to give, share, help, and include others.

When a child shares willingly, notice the heart behind the action. You might say, “That was generous. You noticed that someone else could enjoy this too.” This helps children connect sharing with love rather than merely with a rule.

Scripture to Remember

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

God cares about the way we treat others. Sharing what we can is one practical way of doing good and showing love.

Bedtime Prayer

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for all the good things You have given me. Please teach me to have a generous heart and to notice opportunities to share with others. Help me to give with love and a happy heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sammy was not an ordinary sandwich. He had two soft slices of bread, crunchy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy cheese, and a delicious filling in the middle.

Talk About It

Why didn’t Sammy want to be shared?
How did Timi’s brother feel when she shared with him?
What did Timi’s brother do after receiving her kindness?
What is one thing you could share with someone this week?

One Little Thing to Remember

Sharing is one way we show love.

The Bulldog Who Picked on Butterflies

Bruno the bulldog learns that teasing and frightening others is not real strength. A Christian children’s story about kindness, empathy and self-control.

The Story

Bruno was the biggest bulldog in the park.

He had big paws.

A big mouth.

A very loud bark.

And, unfortunately, a big habit of picking on smaller animals.

Whenever Bruno saw a little butterfly flying through the flowers, he would bark.

“HEY! YOU!”

The butterfly would flutter away.

Bruno would laugh.

“Ha! Look how fast you can fly!”

One day, Bruno spotted a tiny yellow butterfly named Bella.

Bella was quietly resting on a flower.

Bruno crept closer.

“BOO!”

Bella flew away.

Bruno laughed.

“Got you!”

The next day, Bruno did it again.

And the day after that.

Soon, the butterflies stopped coming near Bruno.

But Bruno didn’t stop.

He began teasing the little birds too.

“Look at your tiny wings!” he barked.

Then he chased the rabbits.

“Run, little rabbit! Run!”

Bruno thought it was funny.

The other animals did not.

One afternoon, Bruno went to the park expecting to find everyone there.

But something was different.

The butterflies were gone.

The birds had moved to another part of the park.

Even the rabbits stayed far away.

Bruno sat under a tree.

For the first time, the park felt very quiet.

Then Bruno heard a tiny voice.

“Bruno?”

He looked up.

It was Bella the butterfly.

She was sitting on a leaf far above him.

“Why don’t you come down?” Bruno asked.

Bella hesitated.

“Because you keep frightening us.”

Bruno looked at the ground.

He had thought he was only having fun.

But now he understood something.

It wasn’t fun when the other animals were afraid.

“I’m sorry,” Bruno said.

Bella stayed on the leaf.

“Are you really sorry?”

Bruno nodded.

“Yes. I don’t want anyone to be afraid of me.”

From that day on, Bruno began practicing something new.

Kindness.

When he saw a butterfly, he didn’t chase it.

He watched it fly.

When he saw a rabbit, he didn’t scare it.

He gave it space.

When he saw a little bird, he didn’t laugh at its tiny wings.

He said, “Those are beautiful wings.”

Slowly, the animals began coming back.

One morning, Bella landed on Bruno’s nose.

Bruno’s eyes crossed as he tried to look at her.

Bella giggled.

“You look funny!”

Bruno smiled.

“That’s okay. This time, we’re both laughing.”

And Bruno discovered something much better than making others afraid.

He discovered that his strength could be used to protect, help, and make others feel safe.

And always remember Jesus Loves You.

What We Can Learn

Bruno learned that something can feel funny to us without being funny to someone else.

Teasing, frightening, or repeatedly picking on someone can hurt their feelings and make them feel unsafe.

God wants us to use our strength, words, abilities, and influence to help others rather than hurt them.

True strength is not about making others afraid of us. It is also about having enough self-control to treat others with kindness.

A Teaching Point for Parents

Children sometimes call hurtful behavior “just a joke.” This can be a valuable opportunity to help them understand the difference between playful fun and behavior that repeatedly hurts, embarrasses, frightens, or excludes another person.

Ask questions such as, “How do you think the other child felt?” or “Was everyone laughing, or was only one person laughing?”

Also teach children what to do when they see someone being bullied: don’t join in, don’t encourage the behavior, move away from the situation when appropriate, and tell a trusted adult when help is needed.

Most importantly, teach children that kindness does not mean weakness. A strong character knows how to use strength responsibly.

Scripture to Remember

Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

God calls us to treat others with kindness and compassion. Our strength and abilities should become opportunities to help others, not reasons to hurt them.

Bedtime Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You for making every person special and valuable.

Please help me to be kind with my words and actions.

Help me never to enjoy hurting, frightening, or embarrassing someone else.

Give me courage to stand for what is right and wisdom to ask a trusted adult for help when someone is being bullied.

Help me use what You have given me to help others.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Talk About It

Why did the animals stay away from Bruno?
Did Bruno think he was hurting them at first?
How did Bella help Bruno understand how the animals felt?
What did Bruno change about his behavior?
What is the difference between having fun together and making fun of someone?
How can you show kindness to someone who feels left out or afraid?

One Little Thing to Remember

Real strength does not hurt the weak. It uses strength to help, protect, and show kindness.

The Greedy Gorilla

Gogo the greedy gorilla learns that sharing brings greater joy than keeping everything for himself in this fun Christian children’s story.

The Story

Deep in the greenest part of the jungle lived a big, strong gorilla named Gogo.

Gogo had a very important rule.

“If I find it, it is mine!”

If Gogo found a mango, it was his.

If he found a pineapple, it was his.

And if he found a bunch of bananas…

Well, you already know what he would say.

“MINE!”

One sunny morning, the animals were preparing for their big Jungle Fruit Picnic. Everyone brought something delicious.

The monkeys brought bananas. The parrots brought mangoes. The rabbits brought carrots. Even the little tortoise brought some juicy watermelon.

Then Gogo arrived.

He looked at the mountain of fruit.

His eyes grew wide.

“Wonderful!” he shouted. “I will take all the bananas!”

He grabbed one bunch.

Then another.

Gogo the gorilla excitedly collecting huge bunches

“Gogo,” said Mimi the monkey, “those are for everyone.”

“But I love bananas!” Gogo replied.

“We all do,” said Mimi.

Gogo hugged his enormous pile of bananas.

“Then you should have brought more!”

The animals looked at one another.

Gogo carried the bananas behind a large tree and began arranging them.

One pile here.

One pile there.

And one very special pile right beside him.

“Now,” he said proudly, “I have enough bananas for me!”

But there was one little problem.

Gogo had collected so many bananas that he could hardly sit down.

He tried to sit.

SQUISH!

He stood up quickly.

He tried to move the pile.

SLIP!

One banana rolled away.

Then another.

Then twenty.

“Hey!” shouted Gogo.

He chased one banana.

It rolled left.

He chased another.

It rolled right.

Soon Gogo was running around the jungle trying to catch bananas that seemed determined to escape him.

Gogo struggling as bananas roll in everywhere

The other animals watched.

Then something unexpected happened.

Mimi, the rabbit, and the tortoise began helping him gather the bananas.

“Thank you,” Gogo said, surprised.

When they had gathered most of them, Gogo looked at the animals.

They had helped him even though he had refused to share with them.

Gogo became quiet.

He looked at his giant pile.

Then he looked at his friends.

“I think…” he said slowly, “I have too many bananas.”

Mimi smiled.

“You could share them.”

Gogo thought for a moment.

Then he picked up a bunch of bananas.

“Here, Mimi. These are for you.”

He gave another bunch to the rabbit.

Then some to the tortoise.

Before long, everyone had something to eat.

And do you know what Gogo discovered?

Sharing did not leave him with nothing.

It gave everyone something to enjoy together.

Gogo smiled as the animals laughed and ate around him.

Gogo and his animal friends happily sharing banana

From that day on, Gogo still loved bananas.

But whenever he found something good, he no longer shouted, “MINE!”

Instead, he would ask,

“Who can I share this with?”

And the jungle became a happier place.

And always remember Jesus Loves You.

What We Can Learn

Sharing shows love and generosity.
We do not need to keep everything for ourselves.
Having more does not always make us happier.
Giving can bring joy to both the giver and the receiver.
We should learn to think about the needs of others too.

A Teaching Point for Parents

Children need to learn generosity, but sharing should not mean that they must surrender every personal possession whenever someone asks. Teach children the difference between generosity and having healthy boundaries.

For younger children, sharing can begin with simple experiences such as sharing toys, snacks, materials, or opportunities to play. Praise genuine generosity and help children notice the joy their giving can bring to others.

Most importantly, let generosity become something children see and experience, not merely something they are commanded to do.

Scripture to Remember

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

God is pleased when we do good and willingly share with others. Generosity is one way we show love and care.

Bedtime Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for everything You have given me. Please help me to be generous and willing to share with others. Teach me to care about the needs of people around me and to give with a happy heart. Amen.

Talk About It

Why did Gogo want to keep all the bananas?
How did the other animals help Gogo?
How did Gogo feel after he began sharing?
What is one thing you can share with someone this week?

One Little Thing to Remember

Sharing does not make what we have smaller. It can make someone else’s day brighter.

JAM: The Three Girls Who Learned to Be Friends

Jemima, Abigail and Matilda learn kindness, sharing, patience and friendship after too many arguments in this fun Christian children’s story.

The Story

In a lively neighbourhood called Sunny Street lived three girls named Jemima, Abigail, and Matilda.

They lived close to one another.

They went to the same school.

They even played in the same playground.

But there was one tiny problem.

They did not get along.

Not a little bit.

They argued about almost everything.

Three young schoolgirls arguing humorously

“The answer is twelve!” Jemima would say.

“No, it’s fourteen!” Matilda would reply.

“Both of you are wrong!” Abigail would announce.

Then Jemima and Matilda would turn to her.

“What is your answer?”

Abigail would blink.

“I haven’t done the question yet.”

“ABIGAIL!”

Abigail had a special talent.

She loved knowing everybody else’s business.

If Jemima whispered to Matilda, Abigail wanted to know what they were whispering about.

If Matilda opened her schoolbag, Abigail wanted to know what was inside.

And if someone said, “This is a secret,” Abigail’s ears suddenly became bigger than two satellite dishes.

“What secret?” she would ask.

“Abigail, mind your business!” the girls would shout.

But that was not the only problem.

At school, they sometimes broke each other’s pencils during arguments.

Jemima impatiently talking to Abigail and Matilda who looked frustrated

At playtime, they argued over whose turn it was to use the slide.

“I was here first!”

“No, I was!”

“Move!”

“You move!”

Sometimes the teacher had to look over and say, “Girls!”

And immediately, all three would become as quiet as three sleeping kittens.

But one day, something different happened.

The teacher gave the class some difficult homework.

Matilda looked at the questions.

Then she looked at Jemima.

Jemima was very good at schoolwork. She was clever, but she never used her cleverness to make other children feel small.

Matilda walked over to her.

“Jemima, please, can you help me with this question?”

Abigail quickly joined them.

“Me too, please.”

Jemima smiled.

“Of course.”

Matilda looked at Abigail.

“You know, Jemima is actually the smartest of us.”

Abigail nodded.

“Yes. She’s a total nerd!”

Jemima laughed.

“Thank you… I think?”

They all laughed.

Jemima patiently explained the homework without showing off or making them feel silly.

Jemima patiently helping Abigail and Matilda with their homework at a school desk

For the first time in a long while, the three girls sat together without arguing.

They discovered something surprising.

They actually enjoyed being together.

A week later, the girls had a playdate.

They played games, shared snacks, told funny stories, and laughed until their cheeks hurt.

Abigail even tried to tell a joke and forgot the ending.

“Wait,” she said. “I know there was supposed to be something funny here.”

“Maybe the joke went on holiday,” Matilda said.

Everyone burst out laughing.

The next day at school, something had changed.

Jemima lent Matilda a pencil.

Matilda shared her ruler with Abigail.

Abigail gave Jemima some of her coloured pencils.

At playtime, they took turns on the slide.

Jemima, Abigail and Matilda happily taking turns on a playground slide.

“Your turn.”

“Then my turn.”

“Then Abigail’s turn.”

“Finally!” Abigail shouted. “A slide schedule!”

They laughed and played together.

There were no more broken pencils from angry arguments.

No more fighting over every little thing.

And Abigail learned that sometimes it was better to let other people’s matters remain their matters.

Of course, she still liked asking questions.

But now she was learning when to ask and when to simply mind her own business.

Jemima, Abigail, and Matilda soon became known as JAM.

J for Jemima.

A for Abigail.

M for Matilda.

Three girls.

Three different personalities.

One wonderful friendship.

And always remember Jesus Love You.

What We Can Learn

Kindness helps friendships grow.
We do not have to agree about everything to be friends.
Taking turns and sharing help everyone enjoy playing together.
Being clever is wonderful, but helping others without showing off is even better.
We should learn when something is our business and when it is better to give others space.

A Teaching Point for Parents

Friendships among children can sometimes involve arguments, teasing, competition, or difficulty taking turns. These moments can become opportunities to teach children practical kindness.

Help children learn simple habits such as listening, apologising when they hurt someone, taking turns, sharing appropriately, and respecting other people’s personal space and conversations.

Also remind children that being good at something is not a reason to look down on others. True knowledge should make us willing to help, not eager to show off.

Scripture to Remember

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32, KJV

Kindness, forgiveness, and a caring heart can help us build healthier friendships and relationships with others.

Bedtime Prayer

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for my friends and the people around me. Help me to be kind, patient, helpful, and willing to forgive. Teach me to share, take turns, listen to others, and know when to give people space. Help me to use what I know to help others and never to make them feel small. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Talk About It

Why did Jemima, Abigail, and Matilda argue so much?
How did Jemima help the other girls?
What changed after their playdate?
Why is taking turns important?
What does it mean to mind your own business?
How can you show kindness to a friend this week?

One Little Thing to Remember

Kindness turns ordinary friendships into beautiful ones.

The Teasing Teapot

Tilly the teasing teapot learns that jokes can hurt when they put others down. A fun Christian children’s story about kindness and using words wisely.

The Story

In a little kitchen at the end of Maple Street lived a very unusual teapot.

Her name was Tilly.

Tilly was shiny, round, and bright blue.

She also had a very cheeky personality.

Tilly loved to tease the other kitchen things.

One morning she looked at a tall glass.

“Why are you so skinny?” she giggled.

The glass said nothing.

Tilly laughed.

Then she looked at a little cup.

“And you are so tiny! Do you even hold enough water for an ant?”

The cup looked down sadly.

Tilly didn’t notice.

She thought teasing was funny.

Later, she saw a large cooking pot.

“Good morning, Big Belly!” Tilly shouted.

The other kitchen things giggled.

Tilly felt proud.

“See? Everyone thinks I’m funny!”

But the cooking pot didn’t laugh.

Neither did the little cup.

Neither did the glass.

One afternoon, Tilly noticed a new spoon on the kitchen shelf.

It was small and had a little bend in its handle.

Tilly immediately began laughing.

“Look at that funny handle!”

“Maybe you’re a spoon who forgot how to stand straight!”

A few kitchen things laughed.

The little spoon did not.

“Please stop,” the spoon said quietly.

Tilly stopped for a moment.

Then she laughed again.

“I’m only joking!”

The spoon moved to the other side of the shelf.

That evening, something happened.

Tilly was sitting quietly when the little cup came over.

“Tilly,” the cup said, “can I tell you something?”

“Of course!” said Tilly.

“Sometimes your jokes hurt.”

Tilly blinked.

“Hurt?”

“Yes. You may think you’re only playing, but sometimes we don’t feel like laughing.”

Tilly looked around.

The kitchen suddenly seemed very quiet.

She remembered the glass.

The little cup.

The cooking pot.

And the new spoon.

She remembered the spoon saying, “Please stop.”

Tilly’s smile disappeared.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“I didn’t realize my jokes were hurting you.”

The cup smiled.

“Thank you for understanding.”

The next morning, Tilly tried something new.

She still wanted to make everyone laugh.

But this time, she chose jokes that didn’t put anyone down.

She looked at the kitchen timer and said, “You work so hard telling everyone when to eat. Do you ever take a break?”

The timer ticked.

“Not really.”

Everyone laughed.

This time, everyone was laughing together.

Tilly smiled.

She had discovered something important.

A joke is much better when everyone can enjoy it.

From that day on, Tilly became known not as the teasing teapot, but as the teapot who knew how to make people smile without making anyone feel small.

And always remember Jesus Loves You.

What We Can Learn

Tilly learned that saying “I’m only joking” does not automatically make hurtful words harmless.

Good humor brings people together. Teasing that repeatedly embarrasses, insults, or hurts someone can do the opposite.

Before making a joke about someone, we can pause and ask ourselves: “Will this make them feel included, or will it make them feel small?”

Our words have power, so we should use them to encourage, not tear others down.

A Teaching Point for Parents

Children naturally experiment with humor and may not always understand when teasing has crossed a line.

Help them learn to notice the response of the person they are joking with. If someone looks uncomfortable, becomes upset, asks them to stop, or repeatedly tries to get away, the joke should end.

Teach children that an apology is more than saying “sorry.” Where possible, they should also change the behavior that caused the hurt.

You can ask, “What could you say instead?” This helps children develop the ability to turn hurtful words into encouraging ones.

Scripture to Remember

Ephesians 4:29

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.”

God wants our words to be useful for building others up. That does not mean we can never joke or have fun. It means our humor should not become an excuse for hurting people.

Bedtime Prayer

Dear God,

Thank You for giving me the ability to laugh, play, and enjoy time with others.

Please help me to use my words wisely.

Help me know when a joke is no longer funny and give me kindness to stop when someone is hurt.

Teach me to use my words to encourage and build people up.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Talk About It

Why did Tilly like teasing the other kitchen things?
How did the little cup and spoon feel about her jokes?
What did Tilly learn?
What is the difference between laughing with someone and laughing at someone?
What should you do if someone tells you to stop teasing them?
How can your words make someone feel encouraged today?

One Little Thing to Remember

A good joke makes people laugh together. Kind words make people feel valued.

Tag: Kindness

The Bulldog Who Picked on Butterflies

The Story

What We Can Learn

A Teaching Point for Parents

Scripture to Remember

Bedtime Prayer

Talk About It

One Little Thing to Remember

More Stories for Children

The Teasing Teapot

The Story

What We Can Learn

A Teaching Point for Parents

Scripture to Remember

Bedtime Prayer

Talk About It

One Little Thing to Remember

More Stories for Children