There was a
little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. And he was given
a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods
but he could never hit the target. And getting a little discouraged;
he headed back to dinner. As he was walking back he saw
Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the
duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.
In a panic, he hid the
dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching.
Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch that
day grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."
But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in
the kitchen today, didn't you Johnny?" And then she
whispered to him, "Remember, the duck?" So Johnny
did the dishes. Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to
go fishing, and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to
help make supper." But Sally smiled and said, "Well,
that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help."
And she whispered again, "Remember, the duck?" So
Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.
After several days of
Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand
it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he killed
the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said,
"Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the
window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I
forgave you. But I was just wondering how long would you let
Sally make a slave of you."
I don't know what's in
your past. I don't know what one sin the enemy keeps throwing
up in your face. But whatever it is, I want you to know
something. Jesus Christ was standing at the window. And
He saw the whole thing. But because He loves you, He has
forgiven you. Perhaps He's wondering how long you'll let the
enemy make a slave out of you. The great thing about God is
that He not only forgives, but He forgets.
From the
book, "Will Daylight Come?"
by Robert Heffler