Daily Devotional for August 27, 2020
Spilled Milk
“Mom, remember I told you about Amanda—a new girl in my class at school? She’s really nice,” Erin said one evening. “In art class today, I was looking at the picture she was painting, and my brush accidentally bumped the corner of it. I was sure she’d be mad, but she wasn’t. She said not to worry—that she’d paint over it with another color.”
“Did that work?” asked Mom.
Erin nodded. “It covered the smudge so you couldn’t even see it anymore.”
As Erin ate breakfast the next morning, her little brother Trenton bumped his glass of milk. It tipped over, and before Erin could get out of the way, milk flowed down onto her lap. She was furious. “Trenton, you are so clumsy!” she yelled. “These are my brand-new jeans, and now I can’t wear them. I’m sopping wet!” She jumped up to go and change. “Leave it to my dumb brother to spill his milk on everything!”
Trenton was distraught. “I’m sorry, Erin,” he said. “I didn’t mean to get your clothes dirty.” Erin scowled and turned away.
Mom frowned. “Trenton apologized, Erin, and he’s truly sorry.”
“Being sorry doesn’t make my jeans clean,” Erin muttered as she hurried to her room to change her clothes.
When Erin returned to the kitchen, Trenton had left, and her mom looked at her solemnly. “You need to remember that we all make mistakes and need forgiveness at times,” Mom said. “You owe your brother an apology.” She held up a hand as Erin started to protest. “Remember what happened with Amanda’s picture yesterday?”
“Oh,” Erin said quietly. She had forgotten.
“Amanda covered the smudge on her picture with more paint,” Mom said. “A verse in the Bible tells us what we need to cover more serious spots. It says, ‘Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.’ I know you love your brother, but it didn’t show this morning, did it?” Soberly, Erin shook her head. “Jesus says we are to treat others with the kindness and love He has shown us,” continued Mom. “When we remember how much He loves us and has forgiven us, we can respond to others in kindness instead of anger.”
“I’ll go find Trenton,” said Erin, “and tell him I’m sorry.” • Deana L. Rogers
How about you?
How do you respond when someone makes a mistake? With kindness and understanding—or mean, angry words? Even when you love them, you don’t always respond in a kind way, do you? But think about the kindness and grace Jesus has shown you. Trust Him to fill you with His love for others and to help you respond to them in kindness instead of anger.
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