The Colorful Mandrill

The mandrill is a ferocious-looking baboon. Its long red nose has wide ridges of bright blue on each side.

The male is easy to spot. He has a long yellow beard and narrow, staring eyes. When he bares his huge canine teeth, he looks downright mean. But his looks are deceiving. Baring teeth is actually considered a submissive behavior among mandrills.

Mandrills sleep in trees, but they hunt for food on the jungle floor. They live in groups, and as they hunt they grunt to each other, keeping in contact. When predators threaten the pack, the less colorful females and the young mandrills escape into the trees. Protective, the males stay behind until danger has passed.

Grooming each other is an important activity among mandrills. Animals who live together and depend on each other can’t afford to fight and hold grudges. So when two mandrills disagree, one will eventually start grooming the other, ending the disagreement.

How about you? If someone does something you don’t like, is it hard for you to forgive that person? Do you sometimes feel ferocious inside and hold a grudge? That’s a human reaction. But Jesus said, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Just as we need God’s forgiveness, others need ours.

MISSION: Do you need to ask someone’s forgiveness? Should you forgive someone? Let God help you do it this week.