Replies

PANCAKES UP

Six-year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.

Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.

He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked!. Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor.
Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental
mess but slipped on the eggs,
getting his pajamas white and sticky.

And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his
father just watched him.

Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process! That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour.

Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to "make pancakes" for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right,
and then they'll be glad we tried...

I was thinking... and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling or three words needing to be said, sometimes, "I love you" can heal & bless! Remind every one of your friends that you love them. Even if you think they don't love back, you would be amazed at what those three little words, a smile, and a reminder like this can do.

Just in case I haven't told you lately... I LOVE YA!!!

LUV you, too!

Thank You SA! Well done.

thanks, SA! been a bad week...it's only WEDNESDAY?????????????

FR is a safe haven.

Hoping our troops see the honor and tribute being paid to the deeds of their fellow stateside as they serve for recovery efforts after Katrina. CNN is amazed at their honorable efforts!!!!

SmartA, I always think you couldn't do better but you continue to amaze me. This one couldn't be cuter or more appropriate for this days thread!!

Were you visitng where I go to church this last Sunday?? 'Cuz this is what The LORD laid on us:

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:1-4 KJV

15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Luke 18:15-17

Your story so perfectly illustrates the aspect of becoming "as little children" that Jesus was talking about; that pure, tender-hearted desire to make Daddy and Mommy proud; to lay aside all of our preconceived ideas and simply come to God without pretense; to hear and speak plainly, not through our personal set of "filters"; not to be intellectual or theological and try to "brain it" with soaring doctrinal architecture, but simply to take Jesus' words at face value and accept them. It's that barefaced honesty of small children that doesn't analyze, but simply loves and humbly expects to be loved in return.

Oh, how many times I've had one of my children scrawl out a Picasso in pencil and, with their face aglow, hold it up to me and say, "Look!" Everything about the situation communicates their expectation that I will be happy with their work and that, once they see that I'm happy, they will be fulfilled. For me to respond with anything less than my smiling approval would crush them. But how could I? How could I NOT be pleased? Those clear eyes, through which I see right down into their little hearts, look up at me searching my face, waiting for my smile, and I cannot resist. Beaming, and with a tear in my own eye, I embrace my little artist and declare their work, "great." They have won my very heart, and I will not withold their prize from them.

This is what Jesus is highlighting with his admonishment to "become as little children"; that our interactions with the Kingdom of God should be so pure and simple, so guileless and forthright, so innocent and loving, that God has no need of anything less than beaming acceptance and the declaration that we are "great" in His Kingdom.

Go, then, and, as little children, with your every breath and action, win the very heart of God; that He may have no cause for any other response to you than to give you the prize you seek; that, in that great Day of The LORD, He will smile and say the words you long to hear, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."