“Why does Billy always get the new toys?” mused little Danny as he sat on an old log outside his family’s quaint country cottage, chiseling a piece off the log for his birdhouse project.

Billy had just gotten a drone, something Danny could only dream of owning. . . . His stomach growled as Mother called for dinner. “Not rice again…” moaned Danny.

“I’m sorry,” said Mother in a sad tone. “Now, go wash up before Dad gets home.” As she spoke, the rumble of Dad’s old pick-up truck was heard outside.

“I wonder what Johnny’s dad’s car sounds like when he drives up,” thought Danny as he washed the sawdust off his hands. “I heard that he just got a brand new BMW last week. I bet it sounds a whole lot better than Dad’s old lemon of a truck.”

“Good evening!” called that friendly voice of Dad, who greeted Danny with a big, warm hug.

After dinner, his father asked, “Do you have all the pieces for our birdhouse? All you were missing was just that one little end piece, right?”

“Yes,” replied Danny. “But I don’t feel like working on it tonight.”

“Remember, we decided to glue it tonight in time for tomorrow’s Craft Fair to raise money for missions?” reminded Dad.

Danny thought, “If we don’t get it ready in time, maybe I can keep it and sell it myself to start saving for that kite I want to buy.” But he knew better than to say that. Surely Dad would not be pleased with such thinking.

As they sat down to start on their project, Dad asked, “How was your day?”

“Bad,” Billy blurted out.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Dad. “Your birdhouse looks great. What’s wrong?”

“Billy got a new drone today and got to play with it all day. The mailman brought it in a big, fancy box,” answered Danny.

“I’m sorry you feel hurt by that. Do you think that is the right attitude to have about it, though?” his father asked.

“But I never get things like that…” moaned Danny.

“Let’s go ask Billy for a tour.”

“But he’s so cold. He’ll never agree.”

But Danny said a prayer in his mind: “Dear Jesus, forgive me for being jealous and discontent. Help me to do better and be happy for others.”

When Billy opened the door, Danny got the courage and said, “I saw you got a drone. I’ve never seen one close-up. Would you give me a tour?”

Billy smiled and said, “Sure, I’d be glad to! In fact, I’d love to! My dad is always away on business and my mom is always at work. So it gets lonely here by myself. Come over anytime and we take turns flying it!”

The next day, Danny and Dad took the birdhouse to the Craft Fair. An older lady bought it and said, “My grandson moved far away, so I’m getting rid of some of his toys. Would you like a free kite? It’s a really good one that flies very high!”

That night, as Danny went to bed, he thought, “Poor Billy. He has lots of stuff. But it doesn’t make him happy. I’m so glad I have a dad who has time to make things with me and have fun together. And I even got a kite today!”

Just before he fell asleep, he remembered the verse that says, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).