Spare Attitude
 

Spare Attitude

"Let's go get an ice cream cone at the Eskimo Palace, Dad," said Kaitlin. "We can be back long before Mom gets home from her committee meeting."

"Good idea," agreed Dad, so they went out to the car.

As they drove along, Kaitlin and Dad saw a couple of Kaitlin's classmates playing together. "I can't stand that girl with the long braid!" exclaimed Kaitlin.

"Really?" Dad sounded surprised. "Do you know her well?"

"No, and I don't want to know her, either!" grumbled Kaitlin. "She's the one who beat me out of a place on the volleyball team."

Just as Dad started to reply, there was a loud bang, and the car veered to the right. "Oh, no!" groaned Dad. "Flat tire!" He pulled over to the side of the road and got some tools and the spare tire from the trunk. Soon he had the car jacked up. He and Kaitlin chatted as he worked. "Kaitlin," said Dad, "I want to hear more about why you don't like that girl we saw. The fact that she got the place you wanted on the team is not a reason to dislike her. I'm sure you know that."

Kaitlin looked at the ground and kicked at a pebble. "Well, my friend Alicia knows her, and she doesn't like her, either," mumbled Kaitlin.

Dad frowned as he removed the wheel with the flat tire and replaced it with the spare one. "I'm glad we have this spare to use," he said. He paused, then asked, "Don't you think your attitude needs to be changed-like the flat tire needed changing? Maybe it's time for you to find a spare attitude to replace the grudge you're holding against your friend."

"She's not my friend," protested Kaitlin. "She . . . she's an enemy!"

"I see," said Dad, putting the flat tire in the trunk. "Well, do you remember what Jesus said about the way you should treat your enemies?"

"I remember," Kaitlin murmured. "He said we should love them."

Dad closed the trunk. "Shall we see if those girls are still outside and invite them to join us for some ice cream?" he suggested. Kaitlin hesitated only a moment before she nodded.

HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have a hateful attitude toward someone-are you holding a grudge? Do you really have a good reason to dislike anyone? Stand back and take a good look at the entire situation. Think about your attitude. Remember that God loves everyone-even your enemies-and He tells you to love them, too, and to not hold grudges. Ask Him to help you change your attitude and to treat that person as your neighbor.

TODAY'S KEY VERSE:
You shall not . . . bear any grudge . . . but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Leviticus 19:18
Keys For Kids Devotion