She looked down at the floor and twisted the arm of her little doll somewhat nervously.  “I promise, I won’t do it again, Daddy.”

“But you’ve promised over and over and still you mess the house up with mud!  Why?”

“What do you think I should do to help you remember?”  I asked.  “Go to your room and no more television today!”

In tears she sulked down the hall to her room to begin her day of punishment.

I picked up my devotional book to read.  The words “. . . for he had a vow” fit well with the beginning of a new year.  I must m…