CBH Ministries- Keys for Kids: The Perfect Time


"Sara's mad at me," Mandy told her mother as they drove down a country road toward town. "When she got an 'A' on our spelling test, and I got only a 'C,' I . . . I said she must have cheated. I know I shouldn't have said that."

"Why don't you call and apologize?" suggested Mom. "Don't you think that's what the Lord would want you to do?"

"Yes, and I will, but . . . not right now," Mandy decided. "I think I'll just wait until she's in a better mood." As Mom turned down a side road, Mandy looked at her in surprise. "Why are we turning here?"

"This is a shorter way to town," said Mom. "I don't know how good the road will be after all the rain we had, but let's try it."

For a short distance the road was good, but then the pavement ended and the road became very muddy. "I think we should go back," said Mandy.

"I think you're right," agreed Mom. "We'll have to find a place to turn around."

"How about there?" Mandy pointed to a narrow path leading into a field.

Mom slowed down, but shook her head. "No," she said, "those ditches at the side of that path are awfully deep. We need to find a better spot."

A little later, Mandy motioned toward a wider spot in the road. "How about here?" she asked.

But Mom passed by it, too. "That's not exactly the perfect spot, either," she said.

"Mom!" Mandy protested after a few minutes. "If you ask me, the first possible spot is the perfect spot!"

"I'm beginning to think you're right," agreed Mom as she slowed down and turned off the road and onto a narrow path. "I guess we'll turn around right here."

When they were on their way again, Mom turned toward Mandy. "Waiting for a perfect spot was foolish, wasn't it?" asked Mom. "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, and need to apologize for something. It's foolish to wait for a better time to do it."

Mandy looked thoughtful. After a moment, she asked, "Mom, can I use your cell phone? I'll give Sara a call."

"Good idea," approved Mom. "I'm glad to hear that, and I'm sure God is, too."


HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you find it hard to apologize? Do you put it off instead of doing it right away? That generally makes it even more difficult and often keeps the quarrel going in people's minds, if not in spoken words. God is not pleased with that attitude. So don't wait for a better time. Apologize right away! You'll feel much better, knowing you've done the right, wise, and honorable thing-the thing that pleases God.


TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel. Proverbs 20:3