Devotions

Weekly Devotion –Thursday, July 17th, 2025

Bible Text
Unkind words can pierce the heart like a sword.
(Proverbs 12:25)

Reflect
On warm Spring days, the windows in our elementary classrooms were opened. The class, one year ahead of ours, was outside for recess. We sat in our classroom listening to a group chanting their classmate's name and an embarrassing “incident” that had happened to her in their classroom. The chanting continued over and over. I couldn't understand why the adult who was outside with the students didn't stop the chants.

It's not only children taunting a classmate that's happening today. Adults are guilty of the same actions. People with differing opinions from one another exchange angry words, Congressional members are exchanging insults like children on a playground, our national leaders are using profanity and awful “name calling” of others. These are some of the examples our children see on the TV, other social outlets, or maybe in our homes. What does this behavior accomplish? It's a terrible example for our children to observe, it further divides us and perhaps leads to violence.

Pray
With ethnic, religious, and political differences, help us to show kindness to one another and avoid words and actions that divide us. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Devotions by Mary H