“A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.”
— Proverbs 17:10 (NASB)
Suppose you’ve agreed to see a movie with your friend on Friday night, and she’s looking forward to it. Then, on Wednesday, a popular girl in your class invites you to a party — also for Friday night. You happily accept the invitation, then call your friend and tell her you have to babysit on Friday, but that you can go to the movie on Saturday instead. It works! When you hang up and turn around, your dad is standing there. From his disapproving look, you realize that he’s heard the whole thing. “Come with me,” he says quietly.
For a few minutes he talks about honesty and what it means to be a loyal friend. He was disappointed to hear you lie to your friend, but he doesn’t tell you what to do. Instead, he leaves the decision up to you. Up in your room, you sink onto your bed. You know your dad is right. You truly want to be a person who can be counted on to keep her word.
Don’t be a person who has to be corrected severely before learning from her mistakes. Be wise instead. “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning” (Proverbs 9:9).
More to Explore: Proverbs 13:1
Girl Talk: How do you respond when a parent or a teacher corrects you? Are you a wise girl or a foolish one?
God Talk: “Lord, I know I need correction sometimes. Help me to listen to it with an open mind and heart. Amen.”
From Chick Chat by Kristi Holl