HOW TO BE CLEAN

Sarah cried as she ran along the brick path to the house, and into the kitchen.

‘Mummy, Mummy,’ Sarah shouted, ‘Brian pushed me over.’ And she flung herself into her mother’s arms. Mrs Street looked over her daughter’s head as Brian walked thro’ the doorway.

‘I hate him,’ cried Sarah, hiding her face against her mother’s shoulder, while Brian stood defiantly with his hands on his hips.

‘Mum. I didn’t push her, truly!’ Brian excused. ‘It was an accident. I twisted my leg as I hopped across the path, and I bumped Sarah, and she thinks I pushed her. Anyway, if she hurt herself, she deserved it.’

‘He did push me,’ sobbed Sarah.

Mrs Street smiled to herself. She held Sarah’s hand, and beckoned to her son. ‘Come on, Brian,’ she coaxed, and walked over to the kitchen cupboard, from which she took two glasses.

‘Brian, please half-fill this glass with dirt, and the rest with water!’ Brian frowned. What a queer request, but he obeyed his mother, walked outside where he spooned in some dirt, and hurried inside to fill the glass with water.

‘It’s a horrible mess,’ he grimaced, as he put the glass on the table next to his mother’s glass of clean, clear water. Sarah and Brian looked puzzled as their mother beckoned them to sit on their chairs in the sunny kitchen with its blue checked curtains.

Mrs Street touched the two glasses. Suddenly, she gently knocked the glass of dirt and water.

‘Oh, Mummy,’ said Brian, ‘you’re spoiling the tablecloth,’ and the liquid spread in many patterns across the clean cloth. ‘Why did you tip the glass like that?’

‘Watch now,’ as Mrs Street tipped the glass of clear water, which spread over the other end of the cloth without leaving a stain. Sarah and Brian looked at each other in surprise.

‘Why did you spoil the cloth, Mum?’ as Sarah tried to mop the water with a sponge.

‘Well these two glasses represent you children. The clear glass is the one who really loves Jesus and acts right whatever happens. The other glass represents those who are selfish and do not care how they hurt other people. You either honour Jesus or else Satan.’

‘When I knocked the glass of sweet, clean pure water, it spilled out clean and clear. That is like those who love Jesus and live kind and loving with each other.’

Brian bent his head down. Sarah looked very serious. Mother waited.

‘I’m sorry I bumped you, Sarah, and I am sorry for being unkind. I want to be like the glass of clean water.’ Brian confessed, as he patted Sarah’s arm. ‘Will you forgive me?’

‘And I am sorry I said I hated you. I know you slipped and it was really an accident. I want to be like the glass of clean water, Mum.’ And Sarah nodded.

‘So do I,’ said Brian, as Mrs Street gathered up the cloth, and tossed it into the laundry basket.

Verses to help all the Family.

Keep on loving each other. Hebrews 13:1

How do you know you belong to God. 1 John 3 : 10-11.