The Old Wicker Coal Basket
The Bible and
the Old Wicker Coal Basket
The story is told of an old man
who lived on a farm in
the mountains of eastern Kentucky
with his young grandson.
Each morning,
Grandpa was up early sitting at
the kitchen table reading from
his old worn-out Bible.
His grandson who wanted to be
just like him tried to imitate him
in any way he could.
One day the grandson asked,
Papa, I try to read the Bible
just like you but I don't understand it,
and what I do understand
I forget as soon as I close the book.
What good does reading the Bible do?
The Grandfather
quietly turned from putting
coal in the stove and said,
Take this old wicker coal basket
down to the river and bring
back a basket of water.
The boy did as he was told,
even though all the water leaked
out before he could get back to the house.
The grandfather laughed and said,
You will have to move a
little faster next time,
and sent him back to the River
with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster,
but again the old wicker
basket was empty before
he returned home.
Out of breath, he told
his grandfather that it was
impossible to carry
water in a basket,
and he went to get
a bucket instead.
The old man said,
I don't want a bucket of water;
I want a basket of water.
You can do this.
You're just not trying hard enough,
and he went out the door
to watch the boy try again.
At this point,
the boy knew it was impossible,
but he wanted to show his grandfather
that even if he ran as fast
as he could, the water would leak
out before he got far at all.
The boy scooped the water
and ran hard, but when
he reached his grandfather
the basket was again empty.
Out of breath, he said,
See Papa, it's useless!
So you think it is useless?
The old man said, Look at the basket.
The boy looked at the basket
and for the first time he realized
that the basket looked different.
Instead of a dirty old wicker
coal basket, it was clean.
Son, that's what happens
when you read the Bible.
You might not understand
or remember everything,
but when you read it,
it will change you from the inside out.
That is the work of God in our lives
to change us from the inside out
and to slowly transform
us into the image of His son.
Author Unknown
May you always be covered in God's pure love!
Thank you for visiting me! Joan
 
Sign My Guestbook
View My Guestbook
 
6-27-2011
|
|
|
