The Duck & the Devil

My Mother-in-law shared this story with me yesterday. It makes a great point and I thought I'd pass it on....

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He
was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in
the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little
discouraged, he headed back 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 couldn'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 thereafter?
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 .. It is by God's grace and
mercy that we are saved.