Let It Heal

Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12-15

“Mommy, my finger’s bleedin’ again!” Bryce cried as he ran into the kitchen.

Mom sighed and handed him a tissue. He wrapped it around his finger and watched, fascinated, as the red stain grew. “Bryce, you need to leave that cut alone,” Mom said.

Just then the kitchen door slammed, and Mila stomped into the room.

“Look, Mila!” Bryce held his finger in front of his big sister’s face. “My finger’s bleedin’ again.”

“Stop picking at it, Bryce, or it’ll take forever to heal and leave a scar.” Mila turned to her mother. “I’ve had it with Joslyn, Mom! Last week she ignored me, and this week she wants me to be her friend. She thinks she can have it both ways, and I’m sick of it!”

“Didn’t she apologize for not inviting you to her birthday party?” Mom asked. “As I recall, Joslyn wanted you to come but thought we were going to Grandma’s. You had told her that earlier.”

Mila threw up her hands. “I meant the next weekend! If she had really wanted me to come, seems like she would have asked me. But did she ask? Oh, no! I don’t think she wanted me to come at all.”

Mom looked straight into her daughter’s eyes. “You need to stop picking the sore, Mila, or it will leave a scar that may hurt your friendship forever.”

“But I…I don’t know what you . . .” Mila paused and looked at her toes. She sighed. “I do know what you mean, Mom,” she finally admitted. “I’ve been acting just like Bryce.”

“You cut your finger too, Mila?” Bryce asked. “Does it hurt?”

Mila grinned. “No, not my finger, but my feelings were hurt.”

Mom put her hand on Mila’s shoulder. “I don’t think Joslyn meant to hurt you, but people do hurt our feelings sometimes, whether they mean to or not. Instead of picking at the wound, the Bible says we need to forgive. Jesus has forgiven us for all the hurtful things we’ve done, and He’ll help us forgive others so we can heal.”

Bryce unwrapped the tissue from his finger. “Look, Mommy. It’s stopped bleedin’. Have your sore feelings stopped bleedin’, Mila?”

Smiling at her brother, Mila nodded. Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?

Has someone hurt your feelings? Are you picking at the sore, reminding yourself and others of what happened and how you were treated? That will only make it worse. Instead, trust Jesus to help you forgive that person. When you remember how much He’s forgiven you and let go of others’ wrongs, He will help you forgive so your wounds can heal.

Today’s Key Verse:
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Allow hurt feelings to heal