NOVEMBER 1,  Psalm 19:12

It was Saturday morning. Brian and his dad were enjoying a rugby game on TV. “Watch out for that guy on your right!” yelled Brian, and 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 silly!” exclaimed Brian in disgust. “He should have seen that guy coming at him! He wasn’t paying attention.”

Dad nodded. “The coach has pulled him out of the game, and I dare say he won’t make the same mistake again.”

By the time the game was over, Mom had the light lunch ready. “Hey! How come Brenda gets a hot chicken sandwich and the rest of us get yucky old 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’re just a spoiled brat,” he complained to Brenda.

Brenda began to speak, but Brian wouldn’t listen, not even when his mother tried to explain. He interrupted her and continued to grumble as he roughly gave his plate a shove, spilling his drink. “Brian, go to your room and think about what you just did,” ordered Dad. “The way you behaved and the things you said were not pleasing to us, and they certainly were not pleasing to God. When you’re ready to apologise, you may come back to the table.”

Brian knew it was no use to protest, so he went to his room, hungry and angry. He flopped down onto his bed. But he did think. In his mind, he replayed what had happened. He tried to tell himself he hadn’t been treated fairly and that Brenda was spoiled. But then he remembered that Brenda had been sick when they had chicken dinner the day before and his mother had saved some chicken for her. That’s why she’s getting it now, he thought. He knew he had made a mess of the situation and had hurt his sister’s feelings.

The rest of the family was almost finished when Brian again took his place at the table. He looked at his father. “In my mind, I… I watched an ‘instant replay’ of what happened,” said Brian. “I guess if I did that more often, I wouldn’t keep on making so many mistakes.” Turning to his mom and his sister, he added. “I’m really sorry for the way I acted.”

Thought: Do you sometimes say or do things that you later regret?

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