I know I have already been on today, but I just read my Upper Room. Again, it struck a chord. I recently “popped off” at someone, and was immediately sorry. It took quite a while to get past it. And while the remark can never come back, we can go forward. It’s all anyone can do. Thank you, Lord, for helping us admit when we are wrong.

While running through the house, my son crashed into the kitchen counter, causing a large glass of chocolate milk to spill. He was immediately remorseful and hurried to clean up the spill as fast as he could. After he finished cleaning up the final drops of milk and I thought about his response to the situation, I was impressed. Instead of complaining that the glass had been too close to the edge of the counter or coming up with some other excuse, he took responsibility for his actions. I was pleased.

The Upper Room, June 14, 2012

We all make mistakes. I hope that when I make a mistake I can respond the way my son did. When I say something offensive or do something that hurts another person, do I try to cover it up, ignore it, or blame someone else? Or do I immediately take responsibility for my actions and seek to make things right? I wonder if God feels as I did when I saw how my son responded to the mess in our kitchen.

Wouldn’t it be great to know that God is pleased with us because of the way we react to a mistake? I hope that the next time I “spill milk” I will respond as my son did and clean up my mess quickly.

Jay Wollenburg (Ohio, USA)

Thought for the Day: God is always willing to help us clean up the messes we make.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we pray that you will help us stay close to you and always admit our mistakes. Amen.