Sticking to the Pattern
GOD’S CHARACTER IS THE PATTERN FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD AND RIGHT.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read Isaiah 46:3-5, 9-10.
Verse of the Day: “Among the gods there is none like you, 0 Lord; no deeds can compare with yours” (Psalm 86:8, NIV).
Even through the closed door of her sewing room, Mom could hear Becky shouting at her little brother.
Mom opened the door. “Becky!” she called. “Would you come here, please?” She heard Becky hurl a few final threats at her brother before stomping upstairs. Becky entered the sewing room and closed the door behind her.
“I need your help while I cut this pattern,” Mom said softly. A large piece of fabric was spread on the carpet, and a dress pattern was pinned to the cloth.
Becky knelt by the pattern and held it as her mom started cutting.
“It sounds like you and your brother are having a little problem,” Mom said.
“I knew you were going to talk to me about that,” Becky answered. “I know I shouldn’t yell at him like that, but he gets on my nerves! At least I’m not as bad as Fran,” she said, referring to one of her friends. “She gets into fist fights with her brothers.”
Mom cut around the pattern for a few moments without saying anything. Then she looked up at Becky with a smile. “I think this will make a nice winter coat for your father, don’t you?”
Becky’s gaze flitted from her mom’s face to the pattern. “Mom,” she said, “this is a dress pattern.”
“Oh, I know. But I think I can make it into a nice coat.”
“What are you talking about? You can’t make a coat from this! It’s the wrong pattern!”
“Mom locked her gaze onto her daughter and said, “If you can’t make a coat from a dress pattern, what makes you think you can make right choices using the wrong pattern?”
“What?” Becky responded.
“You’re trying to explain your behavior by saying at least you’re not as bad as Fran; but Fran shouldn’t be your pattern—God should be.”
“Oh,” Becky said, suddenly understanding. “I see what you mean. I shouldn’t try to excuse my behavior by comparing it to Fran.”
Mom nodded and smiled. “Because she’s not your pattern for what’s good and right—God is. He’s the one you should compare your behavior to.”
Becky smiled at her mom. “You didn’t really need my help with this, did you?”
TO DO: Copy the “Verse of the Day” onto an index card and place it in a prominent spot as a reminder that God is the standard for everything good and right.
TO PRAY: “God, help us to remember that you are the only true pattern for what’s good and right. Help us to compare our deeds to you and not try to excuse our behavior by comparing them to others.”