The Thinking Table

A local television station sent one of its reporters to a kindergarten to interview the children. One young boy seemed to stand out above all of the other children. His energy, his enthusiasm, his excitement was very obvious.

Approaching him the reporter asked, “Do you like school?”

“Oh yes,” he replied. Then he became quiet for a moment and said, “Except for the thinking table.”

“The thinking table? What’s the thinking table?” asked the reporter.

“It’s that table over in the corner. The teacher sends us over there to make us think,” he responded.

“Think? Think about what?” continued the interviewer.

“Well,” the boy answered, “the last time I had to go there and think was after I hit Sarah. I had to go over there and think about why I hit her and why I shouldn’t have.”

Paul said that we “should think of others better than ourselves.” This does not mean that we should put ourselves down, but that we are to set aside our desires and not take advantage of others. We are to treat others with respect and common courtesy. If we did think of their needs first we would not need “thinking tables.”

Prayer: Often, Father, we think “more highly of ourselves” than we should. We ask You to convict and convince us to “let Your mind be in us.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Philippians 2:3, 4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.