Following the Right Leader

Following the Right Leader One Monday morning, the Grade 5 students of Statefields School were excited for their annual school camping trip. Their teacher, Mrs. Encomienda, divided the class into small groups and gave each group a simple challenge. "Each group will follow one leader to reach the picnic area," she explained. "Stay together and listen carefully." Matty's group quickly chose their classmate, Aiden, because he was funny and confident. "Don't worry," Aiden said with a grin. "I know a shortcut!" At first, the shortcut seemed exciting. They laughed as they walked through tall grass and small trails. But after a while, they realized they had wandered away from the main path. They couldn't see the other groups anymore. "I thought you knew the way," Aiden said nervously. "I... I just guessed," Matty admitted. The group began to worry. They felt tired, thirsty, and unsure of where to go. Just then, they heard Mrs. Encomienda calling their names. She had been following the marked trail with the other groups. "There you are!" she said kindly. "Come with me. The signs were there to guide you safely." As they followed Mrs. Encomienda, they quickly reached the picnic area where the rest of the class was already enjoying lunch. Aiden quietly said, "I guess we followed the wrong leader." 18 Mrs. Encomienda smiled and gathered everyone together. "You know," she said, "this reminds me of our Christian life. Every day, many people tell us what to do. Some friends may encourage us to cheat, tell lies, or be unkind because they think it's fun or popular. Sometimes we may even want to do whatever feels easy. But not everyone leads us in the right direction." She paused and pointed to a picture of Jesus on the chapel wall nearby. "Jesus is different. He never leads us the wrong way. He is the Good Shepherd who knows the path to true happiness. When we follow Him, He teaches us to love, forgive, tell the truth, help others, and make good choices. His way may not always be the easiest, but it is always the right way." Aiden thought about the day's adventure. He realized that following someone simply because they seemed confident was not always wise. What mattered most was following someone who truly knew the way. From that day on, whenever Aiden had to make a difficult choice—whether to join in teasing a classmate, tell the truth after making a mistake, or help someone in need—he would ask himself: "What would Jesus want me to do?" Little by little, Aiden discovered that following Jesus did not only help him make better choices—it also made him a kinder friend, a more responsible student, and a happier child.