"I don't know why I bother to go to my Sunday school class parties," grumbled Lisa as she and her mother watched their new puppies. "Miss Hansen is nice, but at the bowling alley today, she spent most of her time with Tina. I think she visits her during the week, too, and she gives her all kinds of help in class. I wish she'd pay more attention to me."

"You're talking about the new girl?" asked Mom.

Lisa nodded. "She uses bad language all the time." Lisa knelt beside Mom at the puppy pen and watched as Goldie began feeding her puppies. "You know, Mom, I don't swear, and I'm polite to everyone. I'm always at Sunday school and don't cause any trouble. I even know my memory verses and where to find things in the Bible. But do I get anything for it? No! Tina gets all the special attention!"

"Is Tina a Christian?" Mom asked quietly.

"Well, she says she is," muttered Lisa.

Mom pulled a puppy away from Goldie and held it out toward Lisa. "Would you like to hand feed this puppy?" asked Mom.

"She doesn't need it, Mom," said Lisa. "Goldie was just feeding her."

"How about feeding this one?" asked Mom, picking up another puppy.

"He doesn't need it, either," replied Lisa. "That little runt over there is the only one that needs to be hand fed." She pointed to a very small puppy.

"You're right," agreed Mom. She picked up the small, lonely pup and looked at Lisa. "Perhaps Tina needs to be hand fed, too."

Lisa frowned. "Tina!" she exclaimed. "Hand fed?"

Mom nodded. "You trusted Jesus quite a long time ago, and you're spiritually well fed," she said, "but Tina may be starving spiritually. Perhaps Miss Hansen is hand feeding her so that she'll get to know Jesus better."

Lisa looked guilty. "I suppose I should be helping Miss Hansen by being Tina's friend," she admitted.

"That sounds like a good plan," agreed Mom. She handed the runt to Lisa. "For now, however, why don't you hand feed this hungry little fellow?"