APRIL 25, Psalm 119:130

“None of this stuff will fit together right,” wailed Laura, looking in dismay at the pieces of a craft kit.“This is supposed to make a centrepiece of flowers, but I can’t figure out how to do it.” Dad glanced over to where she was working at a table. “Aren’t you missing something?” he asked as he looked at the things she had laid out. “Did this kit come with directions?”“Yeah,and I already read them,”answered Laura,“but I couldn’t understand them, so I threw them away.” She rummaged through the wastebasket and pulled out a paper. “Here they are,” she said, handing the paper to her dad.

“Try taking one step at a time,” suggested Dad. “Let’s see... it says to bend the green pipe cleaners in half according to the diagram.” He showed Laura the diagram and then waited while she took the pipe cleaners and bent them. “Good. Next it says to wrap the yellow yarn around the small spiral wires.”

“Will you help me?”asked Laura.So they spent the afternoon together, reading the directions and following them closely until the flowers were finished and combined into a pretty centrepiece. Laura held up the finished project and grinned at her father. “I bet this is the first time you spent an afternoon making flowers,” she said. “Thanks, Dad. It just wouldn’t come together for me. Those directions were too hard to understand.”

“But we needed them, didn’t we?” asked Dad.

“Yeah,” agreed Laura,“and I had read them, but I needed to slow down and follow them step by step.” Dad smiled and nodded. “Well, when you see your centrepiece, it can be a reminder of how important it is to read and follow the directions,” he said. “And let’s be sure to remember to read and follow the directions God has given to help us in our daily life.”

“You mean the Bible,” said Laura. “I do read it, but sometimes I can’t understand it, either.”

“I know,” said Dad, “but don’t toss it aside! Instead, ask God to show you what it means. I’ll always be glad to help you understand God’s directions, too.”

Thought: Do you think the Bible is too hard for you to understand? Press on...

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may You guide me and help me in understanding the Bible. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.