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 a pet duck. It belonged to his Grandma.

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 gave him a big 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.”

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 is standing over you waiting to give you a warm hug. He has seen your whole life, and He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. Whenever you have resentment or fear another person, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel.

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

—Fr. Hugh Duffy

NOTE: Fr. Hugh Duffy will be accompanying a tour of the Holy Land and Jordan scheduled for October 30 to November 9, 2019. For more information and reservations, contact Ligia Estrada (KLC) in the U.S. at 305-842-9896