New Year Reflections- end 2007

I was thinking about what is the best way to reflect on 2007 as the year comes to a close. Nothing beats forgiveness, and this story (available widely on the Internet) embodies this in an excellent way. Should we end the year with unresolved relationships or should we make a proactive effort to heal the wounds?

For me, it is a year to reconcile how I should be a better father, a more loving husband and a deeper pilgrimage in the Lord. Forgiveness is a multi-dimensional practice. Asking for forgiveness as well as forgiving those who have hurt us. Like the Spiderman 3 movie where our superhero battles helplessly with Sandman. After repeated futile attempts to subdue Sandman, in the final confrontation, three words made Sandman go away forever. "I forgive you." More powerful than any military weapons. More effective than any brilliant strategies. More potent than any Spiderman tactics. Here lies the good news. These three words are not copyrighted by Spiderman or anyone else. It is free for anyone to use. The only condition is, you must mean it.

The Devil and the Duck

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play without 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 Grand! ma 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, debt, fear, hatred , anger, unforgiveness, 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.

Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today.
Share this with a friend and always remember ...
God is at the window!............