Patch It Up
PATCH IT UP
Read Proverbs 10:11-21.
Angela looked at her brother. “There’s a hole in your pants!” she said.
Mom shook her head and sighed. “His only good pair is in the wash, so he’ll have to wear these,” she said. “Just make sure you don’t pick at the hole and make it bigger, Jason.”
Angela pouted. “Why do we have to wear such worn-out clothes?”
Mom sighed again. “You know we can’t afford new clothes since the divorce, honey,” she said. “I could work more hours, but then I wouldn’t have much time left for you kids. I think family life is more important than clothes.”
“Maybe if you had been a better wife, Dad wouldn’t have left us,” grumbled Angela. She tried not to see the tears in her mother’s eyes.
On the way home from school, Angela noticed that the hole in Jason’s pants was bigger. “You’ve been picking at that hole,” she scolded. “Every time you pick at it, you only make it harder for Mom to patch it up.”
Jason looked ashamed. “I don’t want to make things harder for Mom.” He paused, then added, “You do the same thing, you know.”
“I do not!” retorted his sister.
“I’m talking about the way you treat Mom,” explained Jason. “You always pick at her about getting divorced and not having much money.”
Angela was silent for a few moments. “I guess I do,” she admitted.
“Mom will patch my jeans tonight,” Jason said, “and I think we should do some patching too. Let’s try to ‘patch up’ our family problems rather than making them worse.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have a problem at home? Instead of feeling angry or discouraged, do what you can to make the situation better. Pray about it, be as cheerful as possible, and be supportive and loving toward others.
TO MEMORIZE:
Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
Proverbs 10:19
DON’T MAKE PROBLEMS WORSE.
From the book
