Wonderful Pancakes
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.
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love
is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does
not know God, for God is love." 1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV)
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in
this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for
us."
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
Sin breaks God's laws as well as His heart.
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Thank you!
