** Daily Devotional 에서 방송된 내용의 줄거리입니다.
Daily Devotional은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다.
‘The Comparison Game’를 원본으로 듣고 싶으신 분들은 홈페이지 www.keysforkids.org로 들어가시면 Keys for kids Daily Devotional <August 17, 2019>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**
The Comparison Game
Read: Romans 12:1-11
"Why is my favorite nine-year-old so sad today?" asked Mom when she noticed Nia's unhappy face.
"Oh, Mom," Nia said, "I'm not good at anything! I can't sing like
Cheryl, and I can't play the piano half as well as Ciara does!"
"You sing and play the piano just fine," said Mom, "and I know something else you're very good at--helping me get lunch on the table. Dad will be home for lunch today."
Nia helped her mother finish getting lunch ready. When Dad got home and they started to eat, Nia made a few more comments about not being good at anything, but then she seemed to forget her blue mood.
To the surprise of Nia and her mother, Dad sat down at the piano after lunch. He began to bang on the keys as he playfully--and loudly--sang off key. Giggling, Nia put her hands over her ears. "Dad, please!" she shouted. "Give our ears a break!"
Dad stopped playing and pretended to be offended.
"Nia," said Mom, "you said you couldn't play the piano well, remember? But it all depends on who you compare yourself to. Compared to your father, you play very well."
Nia laughed when Dad pretended to look sad. "Well, maybe so," she said, "but I'm not good at sports like Dad is."
"But you're much better at sports than I ever was!" Mom replied.
"Maybe, but you do other things better than I do," said Nia. "Like decorating cakes--I wish I could do that."
"We could go on and on like this all day!" Mom said. "Don't you see what you're doing, Nia? You're constantly comparing yourself to others instead of embracing the gifts God has given you. He created each of us with different talents and abilities so we can show His love to others in our own unique way. Instead of playing the comparison game, focus on using your own gifts to serve the Lord. All our abilities come from Him, and He'll help you use them for His glory and to point others to Jesus."
Dad nodded in agreement. "Don't waste your time comparing yourself to your friends--or your parents!" he said with a wink. "Just be who God created you to be--yourself!" Raelene E. Phillips
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you thankful for the talents God has given you? Or do you play the comparison game—comparing yourself to others and wanting to be like them? God didn’t create you to be like them—He created you to be you! Focus on finding and developing the talents and abilities He gave you, then use those unique gifts to serve Him.
TODAY'S KEY VERSE: 1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another. (NKJV)
