The Bumpy Road

Bible Reading: Philippians 1:27-30

Henry shut the kitchen door behind him, but he could not shut out the taunting remarks ringing in his head. He walked slowly toward the room where he heard the whir of his mom’s sewing machine. “Did you have a good day, Henry?” asked Mom, looking up. Tears filled Henry’s eyes, and he shook his head fiercely. Mom pointed to a chair. “Sit down and tell me about it.”

Henry gulped and sat down. “At lunchtime some of the guys started saying really mean things about one of the teachers. They wouldn’t cut it out even after I told them to stop, so finally I just left.”

“Good for you,” Mom said.

Henry sighed heavily. “Oh yeah, good for me! Good old Holy Henry! That’s what they called me the rest of the day.”

“Doing the right thing isn’t always easy,” said Mom. She started taking pins out of a piece of material.

Henry sniffed. Then changing the subject, he asked, “What are you making?”

“A jacket for Carolyn,” Mom replied. “The one she’s wearing is really too small.”

Henry ran his finger across a piece of the material she was using. “This is corduroy, isn’t it? It sure is bumpy.” He inspected the material more closely. “You know what? In history class we learned they used to make roads over swampy ground that were called corduroy roads. I can see why they called them that. Logs were laid side by side, and that made ridges that kind of looked like corduroy, only much bigger! Imagine riding on one of those. Bumpity-bump! Bumpity-bump!”

Mom put down her scissors. “That would be rough. It reminds me how our lives are something like that as followers of Jesus. Sometimes the road we walk with Him is a corduroy road.”

“What do you mean?” asked Henry.

“Think about the part you walked today,” said Mom. “It was pretty bumpy, wasn’t it? But you made it.” Mom smiled. “The rough spots didn’t wreck you, and Jesus was with you the whole time.”

Henry stood up and grinned. “I guess there are worse things to be called than Holy Henry. I’ll keep trusting Jesus to help me do what’s right, even when the road gets bumpy.” Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?

Have you had to take a different road from that of your friends? Did you have to say no to them and take a stand against something they were doing? Maybe they laughed at you or called you names. Living the Christian life is not always easy, but Jesus is with you every step of the way. Trust Him to help you through the bumps in the road as you walk with Him.

Today’s Key Verse:
Proverbs 16:17 The road of the faithful turns away from sin. He who watches his way keeps his life. (NLV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Do what’s right