“Janice Richard!” exclaimed Grandma, who was washing dishes while Janice wiped them. “I’ve told you not to say words like that.” “Oh, Grandma, it’s not a bad word,” protested Janice, picking up pieces of the broken cup. “Everybody at school says it.” “I don’t care who says it,” answered Grandma. “It’s still wrong to talk like that. Now, when you’ve picked up all the pieces, sit down at the table.” Grandma left to get a tube of glue. “I want you to put those pieces together again.” she said as she entered the kitchen. Janice worked a long time. Finally she was finished, but the cup didn’t look like it did before. There were small crack lines everywhere. “Grandma, is this good enough?” she asked. “I can’t make it look any better.” “No, you can’t, honey,” agreed Grandma. “But after the glue hardens we’ll be able to use it again. You know, to God our lives probably look a lot like this cup. We all do wrong things. And each time we do, there are consequences. The consequences are like the cracks in this cup. A consequence might be  the sick feeling in your stomach when you know you’ve done something you shouldn’t have.” “Or like the scar on my finger from when Mom told me not to touch the stove and I did it anyway?” asked Janice. “Yes,” answered Grandma. “Even though God promises to forgive  us for the wrong things we do, we have to live with the consequences.” Janice looked at the cup. “But it’s so hard not to do what the other kids are doing.” Grandma nodded.  “But Jesus can help you choose to do right.” “Grandma, may I take this cup to school to remind me to do  what is right?” asked Janice. “That’s a great idea,” Grandma replied. BKO

Memorize: “Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.” Romans 12:9 How about you? Do you follow the example of your friends only when they’re doing the right things? When they are doing what is wrong, ask Jesus to help you resist the temptation to join in. Trust him to help you do and say the right things. Key: DO WHAT IS RIGHT!