Beneath the Tree in Vinny's Yard (A Springdale Youth Story)

Under a tree in the front yard, the question of how we can learn to love others comes into the clear as Vinny, Diondre, Da'Quan, and Patrick sit in the shade and drink sodas.

"Here you go." Diondre said as he ripped out a page from a book and handed it to his friend, Vinny. They were sitting underneath a tree in Vinny's front yard surrounded by colorful covers of books and drinking club sodas.

"Thanks." Vinny said as he took the page from Diondre, who was still looking down at his book.

Da'Quan and Patrick rode by on their bikes and stopped in Vinny's driveway, wondering what the two were doing.

"What is this?" Patrick asked, getting off his bike and kicking the stand, "Diondre and Vinny--reading a book?"

"I thought I'd never see this." Da'Quan laughed, taking his helmet off.

"Hey what are you boys doing over here anyway? Ain't y'all supposed to be at Mr. Flynn's?" 

Diondre asked, knowing that they had taken up a small lawn care service together that summer.

"We're already done." Patrick said with a smile.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, Dion. We work fast." Da'Quan added.

"Why don't you guys join us?" Vinny suggested.

"Uh...no thanks." Patrick said, thinking that reading under a tree would be rather boring for him.

"Aw come on, Pat." Da'Quan nudged him in the arm, "It'll be fun."

"Come on, dudes. I got ice-cold club sodas up over here waitin' for you." Diondre picked a can up from the cooler and waved it in front of them.

"Okay, okay. I'll stay." Patrick said, walking over to the tree and sitting down with Da'Quan.

"These babies never fail me." Diondre chuckled as he put the can back in the cooler.

"So what are you reading?" Da'Quan asked, notcing a box of crayons sitting by the cooler.

Diondre looked up and stared blankly at him, "A coloring book."

"What?!" Patrick jumped over and looked at Vinny's to see if it was true.

"Two grown men drawing in coloring books?" Da'Quan asked, raising both brows.

"Hey, it's a very relaxing pass time. You should try it. And I'm not a grown man; I'm 19." Diondre defended.

"No thanks. I haven't colored since I was in 4th grade." Patrick said.

"Hey, it might be a little fun. Come on, Patrick. Grab a crayon." Da'Quan said, as he looked through the crayon box.

Patrick shook his head and decided to join in. And the four sat there, under Vinny's tree, coloring and drinking club sodas for a good while. Soon a thought ran through Vinny's head about living as Jesus did.

"Hey," Vinny said, "Have you guys ever wondered about how we can live as Jesus lived... and like how we are supposed to love others the way He did?"

Everyone looked at him silently for a few moments.

"Yeah..." Diondre said flatly.

"Well, how are we supposed to do that? It's hard sometimes," Vinny rested his head against the tree behind him.

"It's not really something you do...it's kinda something you are." Da'Quan said.

"That's confusing." Patrick said, putting down a blue crayon.

Everyone looked at Diondre, who was silently looking back at them as well.

"What?" He asked.

"You've been a Christian longer than any of us have. What are your two cents?" Vinny asked.

Diondre took a moment to think about what he was going to say and how he would say it so they could understand. It finally came to him.

"Well," he began, "I think that, firstly, it all begins with a good relationship with God--that's the taproot of it all; mercy, love, faith...these are the things that are kind of like gifts from Him. We can't cultivate those by ourselves."

"Uh huh..." Patrick said trying to keep up.

"And when we ask God to help us in those areas-like help us love people--He will. So, to answer your question, Vinn, yes, it is hard sometimes to love people, but God can help us. Actually, the only way we can love people the way we need to is through Him. He can help us love 'em more fully."

"That kind of makes sense, I guess." Vinny said.

"Good. 'Cuz I'm gettin' winded with this sermon." Diondre joked, taking a can of soda out from the cooler.

"God can help us love people..." Da'Quan said, looking straight toward the street and all the neighboring houses.

"Yep." Diondre replied, opening the can.

"God can help me be nice to that dude who always gets on my nerves?" Patrick asked.

"Yes." Diondre said, nodding.

"I feel like God wants me to mow one of my neighbor's yards...for free. I always wave at him when I pass him by on my jogs in the morning, but he just gives me a glare." Vinny said.

"Do it. Maybe you can warm his soul and share the Gospel with him that way." Da'Quan said.

"Show him some love, Vin. That's a good idea." Diondre said.

"Me and Patrick can help too." Da'Quan added.

"Yeah, and we can give your grumpy neighbor a tract." Patrick said.

"You guys are making me so proud." Diondre said, holding his arms out initiating a group hug. 

They all brought it in and smiled. After the embrace Patrick leaned back into the tree and looked back down at the coloring books and crayons that were spread all around the yard.

"But still-grown men drawing in coloring books?" He asked.

"I'm not a grown man, kid-I'm 19. Vinny is 17." Diondre said to him.

They all laughed.

"Yeah, Pat. I think Dion's got a few more years to grow." Da'Quan joked.

"I think we all do." Vinny said in a serious tone.

"Isn't that the truth?" Diondre asked, "Growing up in Christ takes some time. But as long as we stay connected to the Vine, I think we'll be alright."