Let your yes be yes and your no be no lest you fall into judgment. James 5:12

Excited, Billy came bouncing into the house.

'You know what, Mom? Bruce brought his pet rabbit to school today. The teacher let him tell us all about how to feed and take care of it. It was cool. Can I have a rabbit, Mom? Can I? Can I? Please?'

'Bruce told you all about how to look after a rabbit?' Mom asked.  'Like you would have to clean the rabbit's cage and give it water and food every day?'

'Yea. That's right. Every day. If you let me have a rabbit, I will take care of it  - I will, I promise.'

'I'll talk to Dad.'

Next morning, Billy got up early but  Dad had already left for work. 'Mom, did you talk to Dad?'

'Yes,' Mom replied. 'Dad said that looking after a rabbit might teach you about taking responsibilities.'

When he got the rabbit, Billy looked after it faithfully - for about a week. Then Mom had to remind him, or Dad had to remind him. By the end of the first month, Mom did most of the looking after.

'Mom, where is my rabbit? I checked the cage. It isn't there.'

'I sold it.' Mom looked stern.

'Mom, that was my rabbit!'

'You didn't keep your promise to look after it.'

'I did too!'

'Then why are you asking me about it today? I sold the rabbit two weeks ago.'

Billy trudged out of the house and slumped down by the picnic table. He knew Mom was right. He hadn't done what he'd said he would do. Billy didn't know if he should cry or be angry at himself.

Billy had learned a hard lesson.

Jake Peters, Winnipeg, Canada

Prayer: Dear God, please help me to always keep my word. Amen.