Above is a picture of Carl in his older age and Robby, who changes his appearance. His ears were tucked in in this drawing. He looks like a regular robot here.
🕵️♂️ The Case of the Missing Joy
Main Verse:
"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." —Hebrews 12:15 (KJV)
Detective Carl the Forest Ranger was on the case. Joy had vanished from the forest choir. Robby Robot’s tail wasn’t wagging. Grizly Grace was growling again. Even Giggly Gwen had stopped giggling. Something was wrong. Carl pulled out his magnifying glass and sniffed the air. “This smells like a root problem,” he said.
Sure enough, behind the choir stand, a gnarly, twisted root had pushed up through the ground. It was thick, stubborn, and ugly. “Bitterness Root,” Carl muttered. “One of the hardest to dig out.” Robby beeped in agreement. “Warning: joy levels critically low.” The critters gathered around, staring at the root. “Where did it come from?” asked Gwen. Carl scratched his head. “It started small. A little grumble here, a little jealousy there. But now it’s choking the joy.”
Bitterness is sneaky like that. It starts with a hurt feeling, a disappointment, or a grudge. We don’t deal with it, so it grows underground. And before we know it, it’s tangled around our thoughts, squeezing out joy. Just like in gardening, digging out a root takes work. You can’t just snap the top off. You’ve got to get down deep.
In everyday life, this might look like forgiving someone who didn’t say sorry. Or letting go of a grudge that’s been sitting in your heart for weeks. Or asking God to help you stop replaying that moment when things felt unfair. It’s not easy. But it’s worth it. Because once that root is gone—joy comes rushing back like sunlight through the trees.
Carl and Robby worked together with a shovel of Scripture and a spade of prayer. It took time. It took teamwork. But finally, the root came loose. The choir stand lifted. Gwen giggled. Robby beeped a praise tune. And Grizly Grace baked muffins again. “Joy restored,” Carl said with a smile. “Case closed.”
Thought of the Day:
Joy doesn’t disappear by accident. Sometimes it gets tangled in roots of bitterness. Dig deep with God’s help—and let joy grow again.
Bible Reading:
Hebrews 12:14–17 (KJV) — A powerful reminder to pursue peace and guard against bitterness taking root.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, help me dig out any root of bitterness hiding in my heart. Show me where I’ve held onto hurt or anger. Give me strength to forgive, courage to let go, and joy that grows deep and strong. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Susan Barker Nikitenko August 2025© MRMPBANNABENMBCOB^5454333>***
