A little boy, Johnny, and his sister, Sally, were visiting their grandparent’s farm. The boy took along his first slingshot he received as a gift. When he arrived, he went into the woods but found he was always missing his target. As he came back to grandma’s back yard, he spied her pet duck. On an impulse, he took aim and let fly. The stone hit the duck in the head and it fell dead.

The boy panicked. He took the dead duck and hid it in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day, grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn’t you Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the dead duck.” So Johnny did the dishes.

The next day, grandpa asked the children to go fishing. They were both delighted to do so. But grandma said, “I’m sorry, but I wanted to make a special supper tonight and

need Sally to help.”

Sally smiled and said, “That’s all taken care of. Johnny wants to do it.” Again she whispered, “Remember the dead duck!” Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing with grandpa.

After a few more days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, finally he couldn’t stand it. He confessed to grandma that he had killed the duck. Grandma gave him a big hug and told him she had seen the whole thing and was wondering how long he would let Sally make a slave of him. She told him he was forgiven.

This is a good time to get rid of the dead ducks of our past. We have only to ask for forgiveness.

God bless.