August 5
A Lesson
in Wisdom
"The wise see danger and take refuge, but the foolish keep going and suffer for it."
Proverbs 22:3 (NIrV)
Kiki had always been proud of her new bike. It wasn’t just any bike; it was sleek, modern, and the kind of bike that made people take notice. She could already imagine the looks of admiration from her friends when they saw her ride down the street. The sun was shining brightly as she pulled the bike out of the garage, a rush of excitement flooding through her. The world felt full of possibilities as she thought of all the ways she would impress people with her new set of wheels.
But there was one thing that bothered her: the helmet. It was bulky and didn’t match the coolness of the bike. She had seen her friends ride without helmets before, and none of them had seemed to suffer any consequences. Besides, it just didn’t look right with her sleek bike. She could feel the weight of her pride rising in her chest.
"I’ll be fine," she thought to herself. "I don’t need a helmet. What’s the worst that could happen?"
As she pushed off the pavement and sped down the street, Kiki felt the wind in her hair. It was exhilarating, and the feeling of freedom was intoxicating. But just as she started to pick up speed, she hit a small rock in the road. Before she could react, the bike swerved and threw her off balance. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. She flew through the air, the ground rushing up to meet her with terrifying speed.
The crash was hard. Her forehead hit the concrete with a sickening thud. For a moment, all she could hear was the ringing in her ears and the rush of blood pounding in her head. When she opened her eyes, a wave of panic set in as she realized she was lying on the road. Her vision blurred, and she could feel the blood trickling down from the gash on her forehead.
A passerby rushed over to her, helping her sit up. Kiki was dazed and confused, but she could hear the concern in the stranger’s voice. "Are you okay? You really should’ve worn a helmet!" he said, his words sounding more like a reprimand than sympathy.
Kiki’s heart sank. She had known better. Her pride had gotten the best of her, and now she was paying the price. As the ambulance arrived and they carefully loaded her into the back, Kiki couldn’t help but think about the foolishness of it all. She had been so focused on looking cool, so determined to impress others, that she hadn’t seen the danger ahead.
At the hospital, the doctors assured her that it wasn’t as serious as it could have been. She was bruised, sore, and shaken up, but she would recover. Still, as she lay there, Kiki couldn’t shake the feeling of regret. She could have avoided this. If she had just listened to the wise advice of her parents, friends, or even that stranger, she would have been safe.
The accident left a mark on her, not just physically, but emotionally. Kiki realized that the rush to impress others had clouded her judgment. She had been foolish, ignoring the danger right in front of her. She understood now that wisdom comes from seeing the risks and making the choice to protect yourself from harm.
As she lay in the hospital bed, Kiki whispered a prayer. "God, I’m sorry for being careless. I let my pride take over, and I paid for it. Please help me to be wiser in the future, to see the dangers before they happen. I want to make choices that honor You and protect me and the people around me. Help me to listen to the advice You send me, whether it’s through others or in my heart. Amen."
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your wisdom that guides us, even when we ignore it.
Thank You for showing us that our pride can often cloud our judgment and lead us down dangerous paths.
Lord, I pray for the wisdom to see the dangers around me and the courage to take refuge in the protection You offer.
Help me to make decisions that honor You and keep me safe.
When I feel the pull of pride or the desire to impress others, remind me that true strength comes from wisdom, humility, and faith in You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
