JANUARY 2, Haggai 1:7

Brian and his dad were watching football on TV one Saturday afternoon. “Watch out for that guy on your right!” yelled Brian. Dad waved his arms as if the players could see him. But it was no use – the man they were cheering for was down. “That was a silly move!” exclaimed Brian in disgust.

“He should have seen that guy coming at him! He wasn’t paying attention.” “After he sees a replay of that move, you had better believe he won’t make that mistake again,” said Dad.

As soon as the game was over, Mother had tea ready. “Hey! How come Gek Lin gets a hot turkey sandwich and the rest of us get yucky tuna casserole?” asked Brian, glancing at his sister’s plate as he came to the table. He yanked out his chair and bumped the table hard as he sat down. “You are just a spoiled brat,” he complained to Gek Lin. She began to speak, but Brian wouldn’t listen. He roughly shoved his plate around, spilling his milk in the process, and he continued to grumble.

“Brian, go to your room and think about what you just did,” ordered Dad. “Think about your words and your actions. They were not pleasing to us, and they certainly were not pleasing to God. When you are ready to apologise, you may come back to the table.”

Brian stomped off to his room, hungry and angry. He plopped down on his bed. But he did think. In his mind, he replayed what had happened. He knew he had made a mess, and he knew he had hurt his sister’s feelings. Then he thought of something else. He remembered that Gek Lin had been sick when they had turkey dinner the day before, and Mother had saved some turkey for her. “That is why she is getting it now,” he thought “I should not have behaved that way.”

The rest of the family was almost finished when Brian again took his place at the table.“I am really sorry,”he said.He looked at his father.“Maybe if I watched instant replays of my actions more often, I wouldn’t keep on making mistakes like this.”

Thought: Do you sometimes do things you regret later?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me Lord to consider my ways – to be careful of what I do and say. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.