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, we insult a friend, 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 ...

~ Author Unknown ~
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