As he returned to his Grandma's back yard, however, he spied her pet duck. It wasn't the only duck she kept, but it was her favorite. On an impulse, he took aim and let it fly. This time he didn't miss. His stone struck and killed the duck.
The boy panicked. He didn't mean to hurt the bird - he was even sure he would miss! But he had killed it. His panic grew to desperation and he hid the duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching him. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing to her grandparents.
After lunch that day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."
Sally said, "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn't you, Johnny?" She looked straight at him and whispered, "Remember the duck!" So Johnny did the dishes.
Later, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Grandma said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally smiled and said, "That's all taken care of, Grandma. Johnny wants to do it." Again she whispered, "Remember the duck!" So Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing.
Johnny did both his chores and Sally's for several days, until, finally, he could stand it no longer. He confessed to Grandma that he'd killed the duck.
His Grandma looked at him and said, "I know, Johnny." She gave him a big hug and added, "I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. I just wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."
Johnny's Grandmother was more ready to forgive than he was even to ask for forgiveness. We, too, are surrounded by more grace than we may realize. But a disturbing inner voice often whispers, "Remember the duck! Remember the duck!" Some people are so busy being enslaved by this inner voice that they will never allow themselves to be forgiven.
Maybe it's time to forget the duck! Forget the duck...and be free.
[Story found on Steve Goodier's Spiritual Support System website, lectionary reading for March 9, 2008)
