SEPTEMBER 26, Proverbs 15:1

“That Keith really makes me mad!” said Joey as he sat in the living room with his parents one evening. “He’s always picking on me. No matter what I say or do, he won’t leave me alone.” “Why not try following Jesus’ advice?” suggested Dad. “He tells us to pray for those who mistreat us.” Just then Joey’s little brother, Roy, came into the room. “Play catch with me, Joey,” he begged. He tossed the ball to Joey. “Not now,” replied Joey, tossing it back as he continued telling his parents about his problem. “No matter how mad I get at Keith, he won’t quit bugging me.”

“Catch this, Joey!” interrupted Roy as he threw the soft foam ball into Joey’s lap. Joey looked at Roy angrily. “I told you - I don’t want to play right now!” exclaimed Joey as he tossed the ball back. Undaunted, Roy threw the ball to him again. Now Joey was really annoyed. He grabbed the ball and tossed it to the other side of the room. With a happy grin, Roy ran to retrieve it from under a table. Once again he tossed it to Joe.

“You’re driving me crazy” whined Joey as he kicked the ball away. “Roy,” said Mother, “Joey doesn’t want to play right now.” Roy looked at her. “Yes, he does,” he said. “We’re playing catch.” “No, we’re not,” objected Joey. “You’re the one who keeps throwing the ball.”

“But you’re the one who keeps throwing it back,” said Dad. “It takes two to keep it going. If you would just leave it alone, he’d soon stop bothering you.” Joey looked doubtful, but the next time Roy threw the ball to him, he just set it on the table. “I don’t want to play,” he said. Roy tried to get Joey to toss the ball again, but he soon grew tired of playing a one-person game and went off to do something else.

“Now - let’s talk about your problem with Keith,” said Dad. “It sounds like Keith enjoys upsetting you, and like Roy, he keeps going after you. So as long as you keep responding to his remarks in anger, he’s not going to quit.” “Oh-h-h-h! I get it,” responded Joey thoughtfully. “Maybe I should just ignore him next time.” “You could even respond to his insult with a sincere compliment,” suggested Mother. “That would be a good testimony for the Lord. He advises us to be nice even to those who are our enemies and to pray for them.”

Thought: Do you remember that it takes two to make a quarrel?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, when someone irritates me, help me to say something nice or stay calm instead of responding in anger. And help me to answer in a “soft” way – instead of a harsh way. In Jesus’ name I pray– Amen.