Beforeword: You may be familiar with the Bible story of a young shepherd boy, David, who defeated a mighty giant, Giant, with nothing more than a sling and a stone. I chose that story as the inspiration for a children’s lesson I was asked to teach at church about bullying. To bring it to life, I wrote a poem—a playful riff on one of my earlier pieces, “That’s It, I’m Telling Jesus”. The kids all joined in by shouting the refrain: “That’s it, I’m telling Jesus”.

He towered over me that day,
Stomping so loud the earth did sway.
He mocked my God, he mocked my song—
That’s it. I’m telling Jesus.

He shouted and laughed, then turned away,
Like bullies do when they have their way.
I felt so small, for I was just a boy,
But I knew God had a plan, oh joy!
That’s it. I’m telling Jesus.

He scared the people all around,
Even the king went and hid his crown.
But God gives courage to see things through—
That’s it. I’m telling Jesus.

I gathered my stones, smooth and bright,
They’d be my shield today, that’s right!
Pray and trust, then seize the day
That’s it. I’m telling Jesus.

I swung my sling round and round,
It made a swishy, twirly sound.
But just before I let it fly,
He called me a shepherd boy—oh my!
It made me mad, so very, very mad—
That’s it. I’m telling Jesus.

I twirled my sling again and again,
Then let it go with all my strength.
The stone flew fast, straight through the air,
AND GUESS WHAT? It hit him here!

Right between his beady eyes it land
He fell with a thud by God’s mighty hand!
The victory was not mine, I must give thanks—
That’s it. I’m telling Jesus.

Afterword: David chose smooth stones for the task at hand. We can choose smooth stone words filled with peace, love, joy, hope when we come up against our giants (whatever forms they may be).

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In creative solidarity, Dee