"Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath."
CHRIS and Jessie were two little kangaroos who were always quarreling. One day Chris Kangaroo said to Jessie Kangaroo, "Let's go out and play." Jessie Kangaroo said, "Alright." As soon as they were outside Chris said, "Let's play tag." But Jessie said, "No. Let's play hide and seek." Then they had a big quarrel and neither of them would give in. Chris went off to play tag, but there was no one to tag him. Jessie went off to play hide and seek but there was no one to hide from. So that was the end of the fun for that day.
The next day Chris said, "Let's go out and leap over the plains." Jessie said, "Natch." But as soon as they were outside Chris said, "Let's go this way." Jessie said, "No. Let's go this way." Then they had a big quarrel. Chris went one way and Jessie went the other way. So that
was the end of the fun for that day.
The next day Chris said, "Let's go out and get some fresh air." Jessie Kangaroo said, "O.K." As soon as they were outside Chris Kangaroo said to Jessie Kangaroo, "Let's go swimming." But Jessie said, "No. Let's go on a picnic." Then they had a big quarrel. So that was almost the end of the fun for that day. It was almost the end of the fun because old Uncle Willie Kangaroo came gallumphing along and saw them both by themselves. He asked Chris what was wrong. Chris said, "I want to go swimming." Then he gallumphed over and said to Jessie, "Is that you on a picnic all by yourself? You can't have your own way all the time. Why don't you go on a picnic and go swimming as well?" Then he pulled the Epistles of St. James out of his pocket and read to them the text from today's Epistle, "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath." In other words, stop quarreling.
The reason for quarreling among children is selfishness. We want to have our own way all the time. On a baseball team there is only one pitcher. Most boys want to be pitchers. They forget that there is always room on a team for a good third baseman or a good shortstop. Girls always want to play the lead in the school play. They forget that they can make a very bad leading lady, but a very good supporting player. To solve your quarrels, then, do not be selfish. You cannot always have your own way. In the words of St.;James, "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath."