Keep It Under Control

The forest ranger took the Cub Pack up into the lookout tower. He showed them many interesting sights and landmarks Miles away, on another mountain, they saw an ugly black scar on the face of the great green carpet. The Cubs asked the ranger what it was.

He told them that the black scar was once lovely green forest like the rest. But one day a camper was careless with his fire and started a forest fire. It took many men and boys many days to bring the fire under control. The ranger also told them that it would take their whole lifetime and longer for the forest to grow back again.

Now, it is easy to say some very harsh things about people who are so careless with fires that they burn down homes and buildings and destroy miles of lovely green forests. But we get pretty careless ourselves sometimes with things just as destructive as fire. You may never start a forest fire or even see one, but your thoughtlessness can do lots of other kinds of damage, too.

About that little "white lie" you told the other day to save your mother the trouble of punishing you. You got away with it, didn't you? Or the time you cheated just a little on that exam. Oh, you knew the answer all the time but you couldn't quite get it on paper by yourself. Sparks.

If these sparks are not stamped out they will grow into something big someday. Wrong enough at the beginning, they can spread to something pretty dangerous if allowed to go unchecked. Keep those sparks under control.

You know your problems. Ask God's help in overcoming them.