Day 8 ~ Evening
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Saying Sorry
Tommy reluctantly followed Harry down the gravel road towards his punishment. Harry's father was so insistent that they tell the neighbor boy they were sorry that there was no getting out of it.
I probably won't get any dinner if I don't say I'm sorry, thought Tommy.
"How long will it be until we get to his house?" Tommy asked Harry.
"Pretty soon," answered Harry.
Tommy could see the bandage near the corner of Harry's eye and he wished the stupid rock had missed. Tommy thought to himself: If Harry had just moved out of the way we wouldn't be on this ridiculous journey and I wouldn't have to say "I'm sorry," which I'm not! I'm not the one who threw the dumb rock.
When they finally arrived at the neighbors' door, Harry knocked politely. Soon a small girl who could barely reach the handle pulled open the door. In an instant another child came running, then another, and another, all noisily wanting to see who was visiting their home. Finally the mother reached the front door with one hand holding on to her needle and mending and the other brushing a lock of hair from her eyes.
"Hello Harry. Why have you come to see us?" she asked.
Harry looked up from the children and began to explain that he had come to apologize for how mean they had been and that they were sorry.
"We started it, not your son," said Harry.
As soon as she realized why Harry and Tommy were there, she immediately invited them in. Tommy had never seen such a poor house. There was no carpet, no furniture except for one worn out couch he was sure would fall apart if he sat on it, and no framed paintings hanging on the walls. One of the children wanted to know what was in the large basket Harry was carrying and said so before his mother hushed him.
"My father asked us to bring some bread and potatoes to you," said Harry.
With that, the children began to jump and dance and wave their arms.
"I'll take them! I'll take them!" said one child.
"No, let me! Let me!" chorused the others.
After the mother had calmed them and wiped something from her eye, she had her oldest son carry the welcome food to the kitchen. She then offered Harry and Tommy a drink of cool water, thanked them for their kindness, and expressed her concern for Harry's injury.
"You would have thought it was Christmas," said Tommy as they began their return trip home. "Why did they get so excited about a few silly potatoes? I could never live in such an old house."
Harry explained, "They don't have a father or much of anything. My father always has me bring food to them when I travel this way."
Tommy was quiet the rest of the way home.
During journal, scripture, and prayer time, Tommy watched Harry. Why is he so different? How come he is always so happy? wondered Tommy.
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Devotional
[ ] Journal - Write in your Journal
[ ] Scripture - Matthew 5:27-32
[ ] Hymn - Lord, I Would Follow Thee
[ ] Prayer - To Heavenly Father
