the duck and the devil

my sister sent me this email...a simple story that proves true..at least in my life...
"The Duck & the Devil "
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with,. out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes' But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.' Then she whispered to him, 'Remember the duck?' So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.' Sally just smiled and said, 'Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help' She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help. After several day of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you. Thought for the day and every day thereafter? Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ..whatever it is...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets!
Thanks Liz

Latter Days...

I guess I've always been into the topic of the Latter days...I know we live IN them..so it's not surprising that the 2 books I'm currently reading are on the Last Days. I know these are days full of uncertainty...I feel it all around me...when watching the news,.which I do alot..I always wonder how this all fits into the whole purpose of things..I wonder how.. what is going on 'there' and happening 'here' will culminate into the long awaited arrival of our Lord and King...I wonder how I'm going to raise my children to be strong and able to withstand the spiritual and physical calamaties that are already existant...

So far with the book 'Watch and Be Ready' it reiterates the importance of staying with the mainstream of the church..following the counsel of our prophets..looking to the scriptures especially the Book of Mormon...things most of us already know...I love how the gospel is simple..and when we look for 'incredible' or 'sensational' answers to how to deal with these times...we are simply told to do what we've always been taught....stay close to the Lord..Pray..Read and Ponder the Scriptures...Keep your covenants and keep the commandments.......Listen and FOLLOW the voice of the prophet....