APRIL 13, Philippians 4:8

“Let’s see... what should I paint?”, wondered Kimberly as she looked at the blank piece of paper in front of her. “I know! I’ll paint a sunset over a lake.”

Soon Kimberly was engrossed in swirling various water colours across the paper. After each stroke, she cleaned her brush in water. Looking good, she thought after a while. But as she turned to add a new colour, her elbow bumped the cup of dirty water, and a little bit splashed across her picture. She blotted it up, but ugly splotches remained on the painting.“Mom, look!” she wailed. “My picture was turning out so good, and now it’s ruined!”

“I’m sorry, honey,” sympathised Mom as she looked at the picture.“Why don’t you get another piece of paper and start over?”

Kimberly sighed and shook her head. “I think I’ll do something else,” she said. Gathering up her paints, she put them away, then went to the living room and turned on the TV. A cartoon was on, so Kimberly watched as evil-looking characters shot and killed each other. “Kimberly, turn that off right now,” ordered Mom, frowning. “You know you’re not allowed to watch that kind of programme.” “Oh, Mom, it’s just a cartoon,” whined Kimberly. “Cartoon or not, it’s full of violence,” replied Mom. “You should be thinking about good things.”

“Well, I don’t keep thinking about that stuff,” insisted Kimberly. “It’s not like I watch it every day.”  "No,” acknowledged Mom, “but... think about the painting you started. It didn’t take much dirty water to ruin your pretty picture, did it?”

“No,” Kimberly agreed, wondering why Mom mentioned that. “It doesn’t take many ugly scenes to ruin the pictures in your mind and give you bad thoughts, either,” said Mom. “On the flip side, seeing and hearing good things can help you think good thoughts.” Kimberly nodded. “Well, may I play a game on the Internet?” she asked.

“All right,” agreed Mom, “and while we’re on the subject of good or bad things, remember that there’s a lot on the Internet that can be as bad, if not worse than TV. That’s why we allow you access to only certain sites.”

Kimberly smiled. “I know,” she said, “and I’ll remember. I promise!”

Thought: What things do you watch, read, and listen to? Do they help you think good thoughts?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to fill my mind with thoughts pleasing before Thee. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.