Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of my enemies. Psalm 27:11

'There are many large animals in Africa,' Aunt Charlotte told Helen.  'Buffalo, elephant, lion, rhino, hippo, giraffe, crocodile ñ many many large animals.  But you know, Helen, it's the smallest ones that give us the most trouble.

'Smallest ones?' Helen was puzzled.

'Yes.  For example, mosquitoes are really small compared to an elephant.  But those little mosquitoes carry the deadly malaria germ.  One bite can make us very sick.'

'That's like what out Sunday School teacher said about big sins and little sins.  She said we usually avoid big sins like stealing or murder.  But the little sins like telling a small lie can do us a lot of harm.'

'She's right,' Aunt Charlotte replied.  'Once, in Africa, I had to walk through the bush.  I was carefully watching out for boa constrictors, big snakes that wrap around you and crush your bones.  I kept my eye on the trees where they often hang.  I wandered off the path and didn't see the little green scorpion.  He bit my ankle and I was in bed for a week.'

'That's terrible,' Helen said.

'Yes,' Aunt Charlotte agreed.  'But it taught me to stick to the path.  I've never been bitten since.'

Prayer:  Lord, I want to walk in Your path.  Amen.