Total Recall

The other day, Lucy and Elaine were playing upstairs in their room. Elaine came bawling down the stairs. "Moooooommmm!" she cried, "Lucy hit me on the back with her flag! Just look!" She lifted up her shirt and indeed, she had a long, red scratch down her back.

I said, "Tell Lucy to come downstairs and bring the flag with her."

She stomped back up the stairs, roaring, "LUCY! Mom says get down here right now with that flag so she can spank you!" (some creative license there)

Now Lucy came slowly downstairs, dragging the flag and also crying.

"I have to tell you something, Mommy," she sobbed. I drew her onto my lap to hear what she had to say.

"I tried to remember that verse," she said through her tears, "that one that says: 'Don't return evil for evil..." her voice rose to a shriek, "BUT IT WAS TOO LATE!"

Yeah, I hate when that happens.

We talked a bit, and I asked her to apologize to her sister and pet her back a bit where she scratched it. Peace was restored.

Then I told them both, "I'm sorry I haven't spent much time with you today. But we're having company tonight, and I'm trying to get ready for it. Can you be nice and welcoming to our friends when they get here?"

"Yes," Elaine answered promptly. "I will kiss them." She added darkly, "And then I'll show them that scratch on my back."

Time for some verses on forgiveness.