Values are not like elections and voting: the majority doesn’t necessarily rule. Abraham, our forefather, stood virtually alone as a believer of God and kindness in a world of idol worship and cruelty, yet he didn’t let that stop him from holding strong to the values that he knew were good and true, even if he had to hold onto them alone. Our values are the most important thing we have – and they’re not up for a vote!

In our story some kids discover that just because a lot of people want something, it doesn’t necessarily make it right.

A Vote for Kindness

My friends and I were laughing so loud that we almost didn’t hear the knock on the clubhouse door. Okay, it’s not really a clubhouse; -t’s just Jeremy’s garage. But nobody minds the not-so-nice setting, because when me and the other guys in our neighborhood ‘friends club’ get together after school, it’s a fun and relaxing world that’s all our own.

Todd heard the knocking first and when we were finally convinced it wasn’t just coming from inside his head, we opened up the door.

We were a little afraid it was Jeremy’s dad complaining about the noise or something. Thankfully, it wasn’t that. But it was Sammy, Jeremy’s next-door neighbor, a new kid who had just moved in last week. What did he want?

“Oh, hi guys. Um, I just came over to see if Jeremy could play. I heard voices in here so I knocked. Mind if I come in and join you guys?”

The place got real quiet. We all looked at each other because we didn’t know what to say to the kid. It wasn’t like we were just hanging out or something. This was our club. Jeremy bought us some time by taking Sammy into his house for a drink while we decided what to do.

“What’s the big deal?” asked Greg. “He seems like a good kid. Let’s let him join us.”

“No way!” Stan yelled out. “There are more than enough members already. Let him go start his own club if he wants.”

“Let’s vote on it,” Josh suggested. “It’s the only fair thing to do.”

We all agreed and a quick show of hands sealed it. Five to three – Sammy was o-u-t out.

Jeremy popped back in, leaving Sammy inside his house finishing his drink. “Sammy’ll be here in a minute.”

“Well then he can walk right out again,” snapped Stan. “We already voted on it, and even if you vote for him, it’s not enough votes to get him into the club. Sammy is out.”

“But it’ll really hurt him if we don’t let him in,” Jeremy insisted.

“But Jeremy,” I said, “we voted on it. It may seem mean, but it was a fair decision.”

Jeremy looked at me. “No it isn’t, Barry. We can vote what time to have the meeting or what we want to play, but being cruel is not something you can vote to be or not to be – it’s just plain wrong. And what’s wrong is wrong, no matter how many people vote and say it’s right.”

Jeremy had a point that I hadn’t really thought about before. Voting to do something that’s wrong doesn’t really make it right.

“Well, if you don’t have the guts to run this club properly, who needs you or your crummy clubhouse? I have plenty of room in my basement to meet. Let’s go, guys!” Stan said, getting up and starting to storm out.

But I guess Jeremy’s point had made sense to the others too, because nobody followed him as he left in a huff.

Just then, Sammy showed up. Thankfully, he had missed the storm. We all welcomed him to the club, glad to have realized that niceness wasn’t up for vote.