No More Slivers

Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:5-11

“Ouch!” exclaimed Carter as he jumped off the porch swing. The rough wood had given him a sliver in his finger.

He found his mom in the kitchen. “I was coming to look for you,” she said. “I was just informed that you’ve been teasing Hunter Zhang and calling him names. Is that true?”

“I…uh…Ethan and James started it,” murmured Carter. He held up his finger. “Look, Mom. I got this from the porch swing. It hurts!”

“We’d better get that sliver out.” Mom got a pair of tweezers. “Don’t you think the injury you gave Hunter hurts even more than your finger does?” she asked as she gently worked on the sliver.

“I just teased him a little. I didn’t hurt him!” Carter objected.

“Yes, you did,” said Mom. “Your words and actions hurt him. It’s like you gave him a different kind of sliver.”

Mom succeeded in removing the tiny piece of wood from Carter’s finger. She held it up in triumph.

“All right! Thanks!” Carter said. He started for the door.

“Hold on a minute,” said Mom. “The rough wood on that swing needs sanding so it won’t give anyone else a sliver, and we need to do something to help you avoid giving any more slivers to others. Your dad and I have talked with you about this problem before, and this time we’ll have to do a little sanding on your actions. That means losing TV privileges for a few days.”

“But, Mom!” Carter looked at his feet. “I’ll tell Hunter I’m sorry. Isn’t that enough?”

“That will help,” said Mom. “But being sorry wasn’t enough to help your finger, was it? If the finger started to fester, it would hurt much worse, and if your teasing festers in Hunter’s mind and life, it will hurt him really bad.” She put a hand on Carter’s shoulder. “I know being disciplined isn’t fun, but I’m doing it because I love you. The Bible says God disciplines His children out of love too. He’s working in our lives to make us more like Jesus, and sometimes that requires correcting us so we’ll think about our actions and how they affect others.”

Carter sighed. “Okay,” he said quietly. “I know how much slivers hurt, so I definitely don’t want to give them to anyone else.” -Hazel W. Marett

How About You?

Do you have rough edges that give slivers to other people? Do you say unkind things? Refuse to share? Snub others? Perhaps your parents or other adults are working to help sand down those rough edges. Even though discipline isn’t fun, remember that God often uses parents and others in His own correction. He disciplines us because He loves us, and as He works in our lives, He helps us show others the love of Jesus.

Today’s Key Verse:
Hebrews 12:11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

God disciplines His children