The Broken Eggshell - The One Year Devotions for Kids #1

The Broken Eggshell

James 3:2-10

“I hate you, Peter!” Tom shouted. “Don’t ever come in my room again! You’re a thief!”

“Whoa, there,” called Grandpa, coming down the hall. “What’s all this yelling about?”

“Tom says I stole his scissors, but I didn’t,” Pete called from his room. “He’s a liar, and he better stay out of my room, too!” Pete slammed his door.

With a sigh, Grandpa checked into the situation. It wasn’t long before he discovered Tom’s scissors on the hall table. With angry words, both boys insisted the other had left them there.

“Quiet!” ordered Grandpa. He motioned for them to follow him and headed for the kitchen, where he placed an egg and an empty teacup on the counter. “Peter, you crack this egg into the cup,” said Grandpa. With a curious look, Peter obeyed. “Now,” said Grandpa, “Tom, you put the egg back into the shell again, please—just the way it was.”

Tom frowned. “What do you mean?” he asked. “That’s impossible, Grandpa. You can’t fix a broken egg.”

“Like Humpty Dumpty, eh?” Grandpa chuckled. Then he became serious. “The point is, there’s something else that can’t be easily mended. I’m thinking of feelings. You boys said some ugly things to each other. Taking words back is just as impossible as mending an egg.” Both boys’ faces showed that they felt bad. “Never forget how harmful words can be,” cautioned Grandpa. “God says the tongue is like a fire that can’t be put out. That’s how much damage words can do. Even saying you’re sorry doesn’t make them disappear.”

“I am sorry, though,” Tom told his brother.

“Yeah . . . well . . . me too,” replied Peter. “You can come in my room if you want.” DF

How about You?

Are you careful about the words you speak, or do you say things before you think? Even when we say we’re sorry, the other person may still remember the words we said. We all need to ask God to help us tame our tongue.

Memorize:

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29

Think before You Speak