Forgiveness

Let me tell you a story about Sally and Johnny. When Johnny was just a boy at age five, he received his first slingshot. Johnny loved this slingshot and he took it with him everywhere. His sister, Sally, and himself lived with their grandma. One day, Johnny came home excited to use his slingshot and there it was, his grandma's pet duck. Johnny took his slingshot, aimed, and shot the duck. Johnny was freakinng out because he killed his grandma's pet duck and didn't know how she would react. So  Johnny took the duck and buried it in the backyard. As he turns around, he sees his sister standing right there who saw the whole thing. So later that night at dinner, grandma asks Sally to do the dishes but sally says, oh no, Johnny and I figured it all out so he is going to do the dishes. Johnny tries to speak out but Sally says, remember the duck so he is forced to do the dishes. The next day, Grandpa says he needs Sally help fishing, but once again, sally forces Johnny to go with grandpa. The next day, grandma tells Sally she needs to do her chores. Needless to say, she once again forces Johnny to do all her chores. Johnny, so filled with grief and guilt, finally confesses to his grandma that he shot her duck with his slingshot. Grandma looks at him and says, "I know, I saw the whole thing, I was just curious how long you were going to be a slave to your sister"
Wow, what a story!! In this story, Grandma represents Jesus and Sally represents Johnny's grief and guilt. Grandma didn't care that he shot her duck, she cared that Johnny was allowing his guilt and grief to consume him. Why do you think God throws a party when you realize his forgiveness and accept it?There's not one thing we do that is ever going to surprise God. He is forgiveness that lasts a lifetime and he will never cease giving it out. It goes on and on and all he wants for us is to realize our sins, confess them, and accept his forgiveness. It's right there waiting for us, all we do is have to accept it!!