Focus

Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.

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Read

James 3:13-18 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

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Reflect

My mother was a wonderful example of a virtuous woman. She was wise and understanding. She listened. She practiced patience and gentleness. She also showed impartiality as she disciplined my sister and me.

For example, my mother occasionally allowed my sister and me to share a candy bar. On these occasions, my mother always ruled that one sister would cut the candy bar in half while the other sister would choose the preferred half. Both of us girls were always careful to make a precise cut so that we each would receive a fair share. I remember a few times when my sister made an uneven cut, and I chose the larger half. I was not always a wise child.

As a child I often possessed envy and selfish ambition. As an adult, however, I understand the wisdom of James’ advice. I now know I can harvest righteousness with seeds sown in peace.

I am grateful for two parents who heeded the words offered in the book of James. Their pure, peaceable wisdom provided me with a wonderful childhood.

What a wonderful world we could all live in if everyone practiced what James has preached!

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Pray

Lord, help me to be wise and understanding. Extinguish any envy or selfish ambition in my heart, and fill my life with purity, peace, gentleness, and mercy. In your Son’s holy name I pray, Amen.

Go with God!