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Greater Love

Album: 18: A Time of Discovery

Episode: 224

Lesson/Theme: Jesus' love for us.

Bible Verse: John 15:12-13

Characters: Whit, Tom

Writer: Phil Lollar

Sound Designer: Dave Arnold

Original Air Date: March 20, 1993

Last Air Date: October 27, 2008

Description:
Tom and Whit are visiting the grave of Tom's son, Timmy, who died tragically 20 years ago. But when they arrive, they are surprised to see someone already there, a young man named P. D. Barnes. He was a friend of Timmy's who has also come to pay his respects. Tom visibly stiffens at the sight of P. D., makes a hasty excuse, and leaves. Whit apologizes for Tom's behavior, but P. D. says he understands Tom's reaction. "It's the reason I'm here," he says. "You see . . . I killed Timmy." Whit is stunned, and in a flashback, P. D. tells the story of his relationship with Timmy and with the Rileys. P. D. explains that he was a rotten little kid. Timmy befriended him and showed him love and trust. But P. D. feels he betrayed Timmy's trust, P. D. was responsible for Timmy's drowning accident. The boys were out on the lake when P. D. started fooling around in the boat. He fell in the water. P. D. couldn't swim, so Timmy dove in after his friend, and got entangled in some vines. After all these years, P. D. wanted to tell Tom how sorry he is. Whit takes P. D. to Tom's farm, and P. D. gets his wish. Tom extends true forgiveness.

Questions:
Why did P. D. think he killed Timmy? Why did young P. D. steal from the Rileys? Did Timmy handle the situation in the right way? How would you have handled it? Why did Tom blame himself for Timmy's death? Was he right to do so?