Smiles

Smiles

Author: Keys for Kids Ministries March 9, 2026 Duration: 4:31
Read: 1 John 4:7-16 Ella was pouting when she and her mother returned home from shopping. “What’s the matter, grumpy face?” asked her brother, Jax. Ella scowled. “Mom gets you everything you want, but she wouldn’t buy anything for me. All I wanted was a smiling flower shirt.” Jax laughed. “A smiling flower shirt on you? That would be a joke! The way you whine?” Using a high-pitched tone, he imitated her. “Moooom! Why won’t you buy me everything I want?” He smirked, and his sister hit him. “Ow!” he yelled, hitting back. Dad walked into the room as the kids continued to hit each other. “Break it up!” he said. “The place I’d like to see a smile is on your faces for a change.” On Sunday, Jax and Ella got ready to go to church with their next-door neighbors. “Why don’t you come to church with us today?” Jax asked his parents hopefully. Both he and Ella had been Christians for some time, but their parents were not believers. Dad settled into his armchair. “And miss out on some peace and quiet without you two fighting? I don’t think so!” Jax and Ella didn’t know what to say. “We’ve got to quit fighting,” Ella told Jax later. “It’s not helping us get Mom and Dad to listen when we try to tell them about Jesus.” Jax nodded thoughtfully. “I know. It’s like what Pastor Peters said last week—love is what shows others we belong to Jesus. He gave us the Holy Spirit so we can show His love in all we do. We need to remember that when we’re tempted to fight.” So they prayed and asked Jesus to help them remember to show His love in their words and actions. And He did! Soon their parents noticed a difference. When a vase was broken several weeks later, both Ella and Jax admitted to not being careful as they played. Dad was amazed. “You’re not blaming each other! I never thought I’d see the day.” The next Sunday, Dad surprised them. “Mom and I aren’t too old for church, are we?” “You mean you’ll go?” Jax asked. Mom and Dad nodded, and Jax and Ella gave each other high fives. “Hey!” Dad said, laughing. “That brought smiles to your faces!” –Agnes Livezey How about you? Do your actions and attitudes show that you have the love of Jesus in your heart? If you’re a Christian, He’s made you a new person and given you the Holy Spirit, who fills you with His love. When you let that love shine out in the way you treat people, others will be able to see that you belong to Him. Trust Him to help you show His love in all you do so others can see who He is. Today's Key Verse: [Jesus said,] “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 (NIV) Today's Key Thought: Let others see Jesus’s love in you

Looking for a moment of calm and connection in your family's day? Keys for Kids-daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families offers a gentle, engaging pause. Each episode is built around the trusted Keys for Kids devotional, transforming its lesson into an immersive audio experience. Host Zach guides the way, blending clear Scripture readings with original, captivating stories that make biblical principles relatable and memorable for young listeners. His talent for using distinct, creative voices breathes life into each character, helping kids visualize the parables and lessons in a way that feels both fun and meaningful. This daily podcast serves as a consistent touchpoint for families seeking to grow together in faith, providing digestible content that sparks conversation about God's love and character. It’s more than just a story time; it’s a tool for planting seeds of understanding and building a spiritual foundation through narrative. Produced by Keys for Kids Ministries, the audio is crafted to be both a standalone moment of reflection for a child and a shared listening experience for parents and kids alike. The rhythm of a new episode each day creates a comforting routine, turning drive time, quiet afternoons, or bedtime into an opportunity for discovery and growth.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families
Podcast Episodes
No Teasing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Read: Romans 12:10-15 Emerson angrily kicked a stone and sent it flying along the sidewalk. When he heard someone coming up behind him, he turned and saw that it was Isaac, one of his classmates. “You mad about something…
Slug Bug [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Read: Numbers 13:25-33; 14:6-9 “Slug bug blue!” Zac exclaimed when he spied a blue Volkswagen. As he spoke, he slugged his brother Teague, who was sitting beside him. The boys were playing their favorite game on the way…
Come and See [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Read: John 1:44-49 “Hey, Tristan,” Antonio called as he caught up with his friend in the school hallway. “There’s going to be a special kids’ program at my church on Sunday. There’s going to be music and games and prizes…
Laws of Bread [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Read: Hebrews 10:1-10, 17-18 “Mom, in Sunday school today we learned about Abraham and Isaac.” Myra climbed onto the stool and watched as Mom kneaded some dough. “Which story did you learn about?” Mom asked. “The one whe…
Watermelon Burglar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Read: Psalm 32:1-5 Asher looked up when he heard a knock at the window. Mom was outside motioning for him to join her. He pressed the pause button for his video game and ran out to the backyard. Mom was standing behind t…
Faith Like a Sprinkler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Read: Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 6:26-27; Philippians 4:6-7 “I’m worried I’m not going to pass my math test!” Clara told her dad as they walked barefoot in the grassy yard after dinner. “You’ve been studying and doing math pr…
Why Is My Neighbor So Mean? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Read: Colossians 3:12-14 “Knock off that noise!” Mrs. Steele yelled in Lila’s direction. Lila was startled. She’d been curled up with a book, reading quietly on the porch. Surely Mrs. Steele wasn’t talking to her. But sh…
Alpaca Parade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Read: John 10:25-30 Brayan and his parents lived out in the country, right next door to the McNairs’ alpaca ranch. Brayan was fascinated with the alpacas. He would often sit outside and watch them grazing. “Brayan!” Mom…
Udderly Content [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Read: Philippians 4:11-13 Moooooo. “Whoa!” Jordan shouted. He’d been so deep in thought that he almost plowed right into a large brown cow standing in the middle of the path. Uncle Tim appeared in the doorway of the barn…
Hiding Something Good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:31
Read: Romans 5:6-8; 8:38-39 Cali opened her eyes. “Ready or not, here I come!” Her three-year-old sister, Nora, stood behind a scrawny tree hugging her teddy bear. Cali pretended to look around. “Where could Nora be?” sh…