The Duck & the Devil . . .

Ok, let me tell you a little story I heard some time ago. There was once a little boy named Johnny who was visiting his grandparents on their farm.

Little Johhny was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. He tried and tried, but never got close, so getting a little discouraged, he headed back home for dinner.

As he was walking back, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot 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 the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."

But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen."

Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?"

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper."

Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help."

She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally c ouldn't stand it any longer.

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma 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. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."


Thought for the day and every day hereafter . . .

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done
. . . And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face . . . (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) . . .

Whatever it is, you need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.

He has seen your whole life.

He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.

He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets.

Remember, the image that we have of the God is the Father in the parable of the Prodigal Son, not the elder brother.

So, go to Confession today!