The Perfect Spot

Read Ephesians 4:29-32

“I know I shouldn’t have called Savannah a cheater,” McKenzie told her mother as they drove down a mountain road toward town. “But it made me so mad when she got an A on her spelling test and I only got a C.”

“Well then, why don’t you call and apologize?” suggested Mom.

“Oh, Mom,” whined McKenzie, “that’s so hard. I think I’ll just wait a few days and see if I don’t get a good chance to be friends with her again.”

Mom frowned. Suddenly she slowed the car and turned down a side road. “I heard this is a shorter way to get to town,” she said. “Let’s try it.” For a short distance the road was good, but then the pavement ended and the road became muddy.

“I think we should go back,” McKenzie said finally.

“I think you’re right,” agreed Mom. “We’ll just have to drive a little farther until we find a place to turn around.”

They went on, and soon McKenzie saw a big, open space up ahead. “You can turn around there,” she told her mother.

Mom slowed down, but she shook her head. “No,” she said, “I think I can find a better spot.”

As they drove farther, McKenzie motioned with her arm. “How about right there?” she asked.

But Mom passed it by, too. “I’m trying to find the perfect spot to turn back,” she said.

“Mom!” protested McKenzie. “If you ask me, the first possible spot is the perfect spot!”

Mom grinned. “Actually, I think so, too,” she said, as she slowed down and turned into a narrow path off the road. “I guess we’ll turn around right here. Waiting for a perfect spot was foolish, wasn’t it?” she asked. “We made a mistake in coming this way, and the first chance to correct that mistake was the best chance. That’s true when we make other mistakes, too—like when we need to apologize for something. It’s foolish to wait for the perfect time to do it.”

McKenzie smiled. “I get it. You’re saying I should apologize to Savannah right away.”

Mom smiled back. “Yep, you got it.”

How about you?

Do you find it hard to apologize? Do you put it off instead of doing it right away? Remember that God does not want you to hold on to your anger. When you apologize, you’ll feel much better.

Memorize:

“Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32