SELF-CONTROL CAN PROMOTE THE RESPECT OF OTHERS.

Bible Reading of the Day: Read 2 Peter 1:6-11.

Verse of the Day: “We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God” (Titus 2:12).

The chorus director slammed his hand down on top of the piano.

“No, no, no, no, no!” he shouted. “What’s the matter with you kids? Don’t you know anything?! You’re all flat, flat, flat!… Amber, you’ve been off-key for the past half hour! … I ought to make you all stay after school until you learn this music!”

“He can’t do that, can he?” Jennifer whispered to Adam, who sat next to her.

Adam shook his head.

“Why does he get so mad?” Jennifer whispered to Adam.

Adam shrugged. “He acts that way all the time. That’s why nobody wants to be in the chorus anymore,” he whispered. “I even went out for drums last fall because I didn’t want to take him again.”

“I didn’t know you played drums,” Jennifer said.

“I don’t,” Adam answered. “That’s why I’m here,” he said, as the chorus director started throwing pages of music around the classroom.

Later that night, Jennifer told her older brother about the chorus director’s outburst.

“Yeah,” he said, “he gets more outta control every year.” “Why do they let him keep teaching?” Jennifer asked.

Her brother shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve heard rumors that he won’t be around much longer. A lot of parents have complained.”

“You mean he could lose his job?” she asked. “Sure,” he answered.

“He’s lost a lot of the students’ respect because of the way he goes off, screaming and throwing things, and stuff like that.”

“That’s what he was doing today,” Jennifer said.

“Yeah,” her brother said, “it’s too bad. He’s really a pretty good teacher. He just can’t control his temper.”

TO DISCUSS: How did the students feel about the chorus director? Would the chorus director have been better off if he had shown more self-control? Why or why not? Can you think of someone you admire for his or her self-control?

TO PRAY: “Lord, when we’re tempted to lose control, remind us that our self-control can win the respect of others.”