Day 7 ~ Evening
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Friend or Enemy
The secret hide-out was going to be great fun. Harry and Tommy had been working on it after school for two days and had made considerable progress. Their plan was to finish digging a wide trench, cover it with wooden boards, and then top that with dirt, leaves, and branches to completely conceal it from others.
Its location was supposed to be secret. But Tommy was so excited about their attempt he bragged at school that his hide-out was going to be the best in the world and proclaimed "No one will find it."
His challenge was taken up by a curious red haired neighbor boy who was suddenly caught watching Harry and Tommy at work on their hide-out.
Tommy yelled at him to leave and picked up a dirt clod and threw it toward the onlooker. Before Harry could stop him, Tommy picked up another dirt clod and sent it flying toward the boy. As soon as Harry reached Tommy, he told him not to worry about him. He was just jealous of their great hut. But Tommy was still angry because their hide-out had been found.
"You can't play with us," yelled Tommy.
"I wouldn't play with you even if you wanted," the neighbor boy yelled back. And with that, the boy picked up a rock and threw it toward Harry and Tommy.
Harry didn't see it coming until it was too late. It hit him hard by the side of his left eye, which immediately began to bleed. Harry bent over in pain, placing one hand over his eye and the other on his knee to steady himself.
Tommy knew Harry was very strong, "Go beat him up," he demanded.
Harry quietly said, "I don't have to. He'll get what he deserves."
Large drops of blood seeped between Harry's fingers and fell to the ground as they made their way home. Harry's father helped wash and bandage the cut.
"The rock could have blinded you," said Harry's father when he saw how close it had come to his eye. "You need to remember that being a friend is safer than being an enemy. Tomorrow you should go and apologize for starting all this trouble."
Tommy was in shock. "Apologize!" he thought. "No way!"
"Okay," said Harry, then asked: "Can we read another animal story tonight before dinner?"
"Sure," said his dad.
"I'll get the book," said Harry.
Later, after their daily evening journal, scripture, and family prayer time, Harry's father shared an experience he had as a boy. Still, all Tommy could think about was how unfair it was to make them apologize.
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Devotional
[ ] Journal - Write in your Journal
[ ] Scripture - Matthew 5:17-20
[ ] Hymn - We Are Sowing
[ ] Prayer - To Heavenly Father
