2019
Martíns Favorite Toys
December 2019


“Martíns Favorite Toys,” Friend, December 2019

Martín’s Favorite Toys

“Give, then, as Jesus gives; there is something all can give” (Children’s Songbook, 236).

Image
a boy holding a handful of toys

Illustrations by Jimmy Holder

Martín felt sad when his parents told him the family was moving to a different city in Colombia. He didn’t want to leave his friends, his home, and the place where he grew up. Instead of cool mountain air, Martín would now live close to the ocean with hot, humid air all year round. He would trade hot soups for cold drinks, and coats for shorts. Add to that a new school, a new ward, and a new Primary class! It all seemed pretty scary.

One day Mom and Dad asked Martín how he felt about the move.

“I don’t like it,” Martín said. “I don’t want everything to change.”

“I know moving can be hard,” Dad said. “Lots of things will change, but not everything. You’ll still have us!”

“That’s true,” Martín said.

“And we will bring our things with us,” Mom said.

Martín thought about that for a minute. He would still have his clothes, his shoes, and his favorite toys. Martín was glad he could take his toys. He packed them away extra carefully when they moved.

After a while, Martín started to get used to his new home and new city. The move wasn’t as hard or scary as he thought it would be.

One Sunday, when his family went to church, Martín noticed a lot of people he had never seen before. Primary was full of new kids. He wondered where they came from. He heard people he knew talk about donating food, clothes, and shoes. After church, Martín asked Mom about all the new people.

“They had to leave their country,” Mom said. “Many of them left everything behind except what they could carry.”

“So that’s why everyone wants to help them?” Martín asked.

“That’s right. Jesus taught us that we should help people who are in need. We can follow His example and share what we have.”

Martín thought about that. He wanted to follow Jesus!

Then Mom said, “Many of the Primary kids had to leave their toys behind. Do you think you have some toys you could give?”

Martín would be happy to share his shoes or his clothes. But his toys?

“No! Those are my toys!” Martín said. He turned and ran to his room.

Martín looked around his room with tears in his eyes. He didn’t want to give away any of his toys. He’d brought them all the way from his old house!

He went to his toy box and looked inside. He saw his toy truck, his yo-yo, his trompo (spinning top), and his best bag of marbles.

Then Martín thought, What if I had to leave all of these behind? And my home and country too?

The more he thought about that, the more Martín knew what he wanted to do.

A few minutes later, he came up to Mom with his arms full of toys—not just any old toys—but the ones he always played with.

Mom looked surprised. “You don’t have to give away your favorite toys.”

Martín set the toys on the floor. “The other kids had favorite toys they had to leave behind,” he said. “I want them to have mine so they can be a little happier.”

Mom gave Martín a hug. “I’m so proud of you.”

Martín had a warm feeling inside. He knew giving to others is what Jesus would do, and that made him happy.