When You’ve Been Eclipsed

Editor’s note: According to NASA, those who live in Mexico, the United States, and Canada are going to be able to see a solar eclipse today! Grab your little ones or the kids in your care and step outside for an awesome science experience. Remember not to look directly at it and don’t forget your certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers!

Enjoy this excerpt about eclipses from Indescribable by Louie Giglio.

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Be happy with those who are happy. Be sad with those who are sad. — Romans 12:15

Your best friend made the team, but you didn’t. Your sister made straight As, but you didn’t. Should you pout or sulk or just not speak to them anymore? Or maybe you made the team, but now your friend is upset. And perhaps you got the As, while your sister didn’t do so well. What should you do?

When one person seems to outshine another, it’s kind of like this thing that happens to our Sun and Moon called an eclipse.

An eclipse occurs when a planet or a moon passes between two astronomical objects, such as another planet, moon, or the Sun. When the Moon lines up between the Sun and the Earth, the Moon blocks the Sun’s light. That’s called a solar eclipse. When the Earth gets between the Sun and Moon, it blocks the Sun’s light to the Moon. That’s called a lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse can last as long as a few hours, while a solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes.

So sometimes it’s the Sun’s turn to shine, and sometimes it’s the Moon’s turn to reflect the Sun’s light. It’s the same with people. Sometimes it’s your turn to shine — to be the winner, make the team, or ace the test. And sometimes it’s your turn to be “eclipsed,” while someone else shines. What do you do?

God says, “Be happy with those who are happy. Be sad with those who are sad.”

• If your friend is celebrating, celebrate too — even if things didn’t turn out so great for you. And if your friend is sad, that’s not the time to brag. Be humble, and offer comfort and encouragement instead — because that’s what good friends do.

Lord, it’s tough when things don’t happen the way I want. But help me to be happy for my friends when they succeed and to be humble when it’s my turn to win.

Be Amazed

Long ago, people thought that the Earth was flat and that you could actually sail right off the edge! But lunar eclipses helped them discover the Earth is round. That’s because during a lunar eclipse, the Earth’s shadow can be seen on the face of the Moon. When people saw the shadow was round, they figured out the Earth must be too!

Excerpted with permission from Indescribable by Louie Giglio, copyright Louie Giglio.

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Your Turn 

Happy solar eclipse day! It’s a wonderful day to share science and God with the kids in your orbit. Come share with us how it goes and what was fun and interesting! We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily