The Duck & the Devil

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.