"Remember the Duck!"

I can't remember who I heard it from or I would give them the credit. A little boy named Johnny was visiting his grandparents on the farm practicing with his sling shot. He increasingly became discouraged, as he could never hit a target he aimed at. As he was walking back to the house, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Out of an impulse, he loaded up his sling and let it fly, hitting the duck square on the head, killing it. He was shocked at first and then the grief hit. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in a woodpile, only to see his sister watching his every move.

After lunch that day, Grandma asked his sister Sally to help with the washing of dishes. Sally replied, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn't you Johnny?" Sally whispered in Johnny's ear, "Remember the duck!" Johnny did the dishes. Later in the day, Grandpa asked if they would like to go fishing but Grandma said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help me clean the house and prepare supper." Sally smiled and said, "Well, you wouldn't believe this grandma, but Johnny told me he wanted to help you clean the house, didn't you Johnny?" She leaned over and quickly said in his ear, "Remember the duck!" Sally went fishing with grandpa while Johnny stayed and cleaned.

After a couple of days of Johnny doing all the chores, Johnny finally broke down and went to grandma telling her the whole truth of killing her duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. I forgive you! I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you?"

How many times are we enslaved to the power of sin, trapped in our guilt, feeling our lives as helpless and hopeless? We feel so alone and no one is aware of our misery. Each day becomes a struggle just to do simple tasks. We hide and fake things because we want no one to find out while inside we waste away. Why do we do this? Because we do not see our Lord as a forgiver and helper of our weaknesses! In Christ, if we would be honest, humble and confess our sins (I John 1:9), God would embrace and forgive us. The difficulty is we do not want to face our sins and be humble and honest, so sin continues to hold on to us, making us its slave. We decide to try harder in areas of our lives only to fail more. Over time, it will eventually wear us out where we will completely quit trying. Have we forgotten the sweetness of forgiveness? Do you really want to be free? Sin speaks, "Remember the duck!" Christ speaks, "It was for freedom that I set you free!"