Daily Devotional for June 15, 2019
The Right Accent
“Okay, I’ll talk to y’all next week. Bye!” London hung up the phone and turned to find her brother Liam snickering behind her. “What’s so funny?” she asked.
“I would have known you were talking to our grandparents in Texas even if I hadn’t talked to them a few minutes before you did,” Liam said. “You always copy the accent of people you’re talking with. It’s hilarious!”
“I do not!” London said.
“Well, maybe you don’t try to do it, but you still pick up a hint of how they talk,” Liam said. “You should hear yourself! It’s ‘y’all’ with Grandma and Grandpa, and ‘brilliant’ with your friend who lives in England.” Liam mimicked London’s accents. “If I hear you on the phone, I never have to wonder who you’re talking to!”
London narrowed her eyes. “Oh yeah? Well, I’d rather talk to anyone than to you!”
“Fine. Who’d want to talk to someone as mean as you anyway?”
Insults flew back and forth until Mom came into the room. She did not look pleased. “What’s going on?”
“Liam is making fun of me,” London said.
“Well, you should hear her, Mom! She always picks up the accent of the person she’s talking with.”
Mom was silent for a moment, then she said, “That makes me think of something I read this morning.” She went to the coffee table and picked up her Bible. “Here it is—Acts 4:13. It says that when the Jewish leaders saw the way Peter and John conducted themselves, they could tell they had been with Jesus.” Mom looked from London to Liam. “From your conversation just now, I could tell who both of you hadn’t been talking with.”
London and Liam exchanged glances. “You mean Jesus?” Liam asked.
“Yes,” Mom said. “As you get to know Jesus better, you begin to copy His speech and actions. As Christians, we need to listen to Him and spend time with Him so we can understand His love for everyone and pick up His accent in the way we talk to and treat others.”
London sighed and turned to Liam. “I’m sorry I got irritated.”
“Me too,” said Liam. “Let’s help each other remember to copy Jesus’ accent!” •Jessica Dorfsmith
How about you?
Do your words and actions show others that you know Jesus? Are you kind, patient, loving, and forgiving like He is? If you trust in Him, He will help you grow to be more like Him. Spend time praying and reading His Word so you can get to know Him better, and trust Him to help you show His love to others in your speech and actions.
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