JANUARY 11, Johnn 15:5 

One breezy Saturday, Dad took Angel and Jimmy to the park to try out their new kites. “My kite will fly higher than yours,” declared Jimmy, looking proudly at his bright yellow kite with its dark blue borders and perky red bows.

“We will see about that!” said Angel, tweaking her little brother’s ear and tossing her green and orange kite into the air. Not to be outdone, Jimmy quickly tossed his kite into the air, too. For a few minutes both kites sailed merrily across the sky, flying higher and higher, making Jimmy jump up and down and squeal with delight. “Go, kite! Go!” he yelled. “Show them that you are the best.”

Suddenly, Angel’s kite plunged down toward the ground. “See, Angel’s kite cannot fly right; my kite’s the KING of kites!” yelled Jimmy in -glee. But only a few moments later, his kite joined his sister’s on the ground. “What is the problem? Why isn’t my kite flying anymore?” cried Jimmy in despair as he began winding up his string. “Some king!” Angel teased him. “Aha!” said Dad. “What do you mean... ‘Aha’?” grumbled Jimmy as they went to pick up the fallen kites.

“You were so proud of your kite that you forgot what makes it fly,” said Dad. “The air is very still now – there is almost no breeze at all – that is why neither of your kites will fly.” He grinned at Jimmy. “You forgot about the breeze, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I guess I did,” admitted Jimmy. “I guess I thought a super-good kite was all I needed, but I guess a super-good breeze is needed, too.” As they walked slowly home, Dad spoke thoughtfully. “Lots of people make the same mistake you did, Jimmy,” he said.

“They do?” Angel was surprised. “I thought everybody knew you need wind to fly a kite.” She looked at her brother. “Except Jimmy, of course,” she teased. Dad smiled. “Actually, I wasn’t thinking of kite flying. I was thinking that, just like Jimmy forgot that the wind was needed, people often forget that God is needed. They think they can do things all on their own and act like they don’t need God in their lives; they forget that it is God who gives them power to do just about everything, even just breathing in and breathing out.”

Thought: Are you intelligent? Smart? Talented? All these are from God!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me never to be proud and help me to always remember I need You just as the kite needs the wind. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.