NOVEMBER 20, Psalm 141:3

Brad started towards the family room. “VAR-O-O-O-M!” sang out his little brother, Kevin, as he charged through the room, holding up his toy plane. He crashed into Brad.

“Why don’t you watch where you’re going, you stupid boy?” said Brad angrily. “You’re hopeless in coordination!” “You know very well that you are not to call people names,” Dad said sternly, as Kevin ran to his room.

Brad sighed. “Oops! I suppose I better go apologise.” Just then the phone rang, and Brad picked it up. “Hello…oh hi, Tim. …Yeah, I heard what they’re saying about Mrs. Tan, that she comes to school looking all bleary-eyed because she’s an alcoholic, right? I believe it too. Did you notice how she stumbled over her words in class? …Yeah, and she… oh, I have to go, Tim. Dad wants me for something. ‘Bye.” Brad hung up the phone and looked at his father.

“You’ll have to call Tim back and apologise for that bit of gossip I just heard,” said Dad. When Brad started to protest, Dad held up a hand. “Did you know that Mrs. Tan’s husband is dying?” he asked. “She has to stay up many nights caring for him. No wonder she’s tired.”

“Oh… I didn’t know that.” Brad looked truly sorry. Then he shrugged. “Okay, I’ll call Tim and tell him.” “First, follow me,” said Dad, leading the way. He picked up a hammer and some nails. “I want you to pound these nails about halfway into this board.”

Brad obeyed with a puzzled look.“Okay. Now what?” “Pull the nails out.” Brad did so. “Brad, your words lately have been as sharp as these nails,” said Dad. “They’ve been cutting and hurting. Then you’ve had to go to folks and apologise. Saying you’re sorry is fine. But look at this board. What do you see?”

“The nail holes,” said Brad, glancing at the board. “Exactly,” said Dad. “You can apologise – that’s what God wants you to do – and you can be forgiven, but you can never take back all the harm you’ve caused.” Brad picked up the board. “I get your point, Dad,” he said slowly.

“Good,” said Dad. “Now why don’t you go hang that in your room as a reminder to be more careful with your tongue.”

Thought: Are you careless with your words?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to guard my speech so that it edifies others instead of stumbling them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.