Craig Clouston

 Precious Time

March 19

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what

it says.

James 1:22

“Read the directions, Mikey!” Bruce hollered. “I can’t teach you everything.

Some things you just have to figure out on your own!”

Mikey was a question-a-minute kid, and Bruce didn’t feel up to it right

now. It had been a rough day, and all he wanted was to finish reading his devo-

tions before dinner.

“Dad?” persisted Mikey.

“For God’s sake, Mikey! Stop asking me questions! I told you read the

directions! Can’t you see I’m reading my Bible?”

Mikey saw. But what he heard was, “I don’t have time for you. What I’m

doing is more important.”

Mere seconds after Bruce’s outburst, God spoke to his heart; “My Son is

worth your time, so is yours.”

Bruce found Mikey sitting on the basement steps, rejection written all

over his little face. In his hand was a broken piece of the model he’d been

working on. “I’m so sorry, Mikey,” Bruce spoke softly. “I will always have time

for you,” he said as he wrapped his arm around his son’s shoulders. “Can you

forgive me for the hurtful things I said?”

Mikey’s bright smile and exuberant nod told Bruce this had been the right

thing to do. The next few minutes invested in his son would be priceless!

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Many times we allow our emotional and physical condition to reign over our

spiritual lives. None of us are innocent. Thank God children are so resilient!

But we can, and do, make the same mistakes with others we encounter on a

daily basis.

The chance to touch hurting people as they pass through our lives is incal-

culable. If slighted, they may not be as forgiving, and the moment may be lost.

God asks us to live out the gospel, to give of ourselves—meaning time and

possibly comfort—in an effort to raise others to a place they have never been,

confident that Someone else has their best interest at heart.

Our actions speak what our words cannot. Whether listening to a wounded

heart or assisting in a physical need, this scripture is a call to action.

Prayer

“In the beginning was the Word. Father, may the Word be

found active and alive in me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”