Sis. Jessica Willoby
Just for Children
Furiously pedaling her bike to catch up, Christy called to her brother, “Slow down, Gavin!” The children were speeding along the dirt path, dodging rocks, small branches, and holes. Glancing back over his shoulder, Gavin gave his brakes a squeeze, but it was too late. His bike hit a small rock, bumping him and causing him and his bike to fall. Christy came to a stop beside him and reached down to help him up. “You were going so fast you could hardly see the rocks and holes all along the path. Sometimes, it’s better to just go slow.”
Just like Gavin, we sometimes race through our day. We are busy, busy, busy, and have so much to do, but God reminds us in His Word that sometimes we need to slow down. When we are busy, we may make costly mistakes or even forget important things. Being too busy may lead to us feeling frustrated or impatient. We may even be tempted to complain when others do not seem to be busy as well.
At times, we need to just slow down!
James 1:19 says, “…let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
We do need to slow down so we are ready to be “swift to hear,” or quick to listen to God, to our parents, to our pastor and our teachers, and always be quick to obey.
Being slow to speak will help us think more about the words we say and how we say them. It will train us not to blurt out every thought that passes through our heads. Many hurt feelings and poor decisions would never happen if we were slow to speak. Proverbs 21:23 says, “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 14:29 says, “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” Being patient, or slow to get upset or angry, will help you to continue to get along with others.†