First Step

Jaden slouched through the living room doorway and dropped into a chair next to his mother, who was holding his baby sister Piper. "I have a problem," he said with a sigh. "I'm always losing my temper, and I don't make friends that way." "No, I'm sure you don't," Mom said as she stood Piper on her feet. "Guess what? Piper took her first step today." "Really? Good job, Piper!" Jaden held out his arms. "Come here! Walk over to me!" He and Mom watched as the little girl took a few wobbly steps. Then down she went. Her face puckered, but she crawled to a chair and pulled herself up again. When she tried again, she walked a few more steps before she fell. "Keep it up, and before you know it, you'll be running races with me!" said Jaden. Mom smiled. "You know, Jaden, Piper took her first step today, and I think you took a first step too--you admitted that you have a problem." Jaden sighed. "Yeah, I guess," he said grimly. "Think of it as learning to walk," said Mom. "You had to learn to walk physically--and look how strong your legs are now!" Jaden grinned. He loved running. "Learning to walk takes time and practice," continued Mom. "That's true of learning to walk physically, and it's also true of the Christian walk as you learn to trust God and show others His love. When Piper falls, she has to get up--just as you did. And when you fall in your Christian walk, you need to keep working at it." "So, if I just keep trying not to lose my temper, I'll get better at it?" Jaden asked. "Trying isn't enough," Mom told him as she picked up Piper. "Your sister needs us to help her learn to walk, and we need God to help us grow as Christians. You need to look to Him. Remember that because you know Jesus, He's given you the power to turn from sin and respond to others in love instead of anger. Trust Him to give you strength and to help you control your temper--and ask Him to forgive you when you don't."Jaden nodded. "Okay." He got up and headed for his room. "I'll trust Jesus to help me."-Harriett A. Durrell