March 13, 2019

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 and practiced, 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. Nor did her guilty brother, Johnny. 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.” Again, she whispered, “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 just as Jesus forgave me for my trespasses. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”

Whatever it is in your past and whatever you have done (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.), the devil will keep throwing it up in your face one way or another. But, there is one person who will not throw it up in your face, and that is God for He loves you and forgives you. You need to know that: God is standing at the window. He has seen your whole life, and He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. Whenever you resent or fear another, you are bound to that person or that condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel.

God, our Father, wants to set you free from that kind of bondage.

Fr. Hugh Duffy