TITLE: A Lesson in Forgiveness By Laura Manley 06/08/09 |
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It had been six months since Toadsetta moved to Peacock Pond in Frogsmore or Less, U.S.A. The mountains now were merely a memory. She loved it there and had made many new friends.
One day Miss Daisy, a retired school teacher, took a walk to Peacock Pond from her nearby home. Toadsetta spotted her sitting on a bench. Being a friendly little critter, she hopped over to where Miss Daisy sat.
"Hi, my name is Toadsetta. What's yours?"
Shocked that this little toad could speak, Miss Daisy had to catch her breath before she identified herself.
"My name is Miss Daisy. I've never known a talking toad before. How long have you been able to talk, Toadsetta?
"Pretty much from the time I turned into a toad."
And so it went - Toadsetta loved to talk, and they did, all afternoon.
The sun hid behind the clouds much too soon, and it was time to say goodbye. To Miss Daisy's surprise, Toadsetta asked if she could go to live with Miss Daisy. Without even thinking, Miss Daisy answered yes! She waited while Toadsetta scurried off to say goodbye to her toad and frog friends; then Toadsetta hopped up on Miss Daisy's shoulder and off they went to begin their lives together.
Miss Daisy had a huge home and since she lived alone, had ample room for Toadsetta. Miss Daisy allowed Toadsetta to choose her room. After Toadsetta had lived there for a while, they began to make plans to build an indoor pond for Toadsetta. Toadsetta was very excited and could hardly wait for Miss Daisy to order the supplies.
One day, as Toadsetta was finishing up lunch, Miss Daisy asked if she wanted to go shopping with her. When Toadsetta said "no," Miss Daisy was shocked because that was one of Toadsetta's favorite pasttime.
When Miss Daisy returned home, Toadsetta was in her room. After knocking on the door, Miss Daisy went in. What a shock! "What have you done, Toadsetta?" she asked angrily as Toadsetta ran to blend with the green walls they had so carefully painted. There on Toadsetta's floor were piles of very expensive wood. She had found and used one of Miss Daisy's credit cards and ordered everything needed for her indoor pond. With the unusual strength Toadsetta prided herself in, she had also managed to get the wood out of each box, knowing Miss Daisy could not return it.
"Toadsetta, come here!"
Toadsetta slowly moved out of her hiding place.
"Toadsetta, what were you thinking?" Miss Daisy's voice was shaking. Toadsetta began to cry.
Through her sobs, she quietly said, "I'm sorry." She begged Miss Daisy's forgiveness. But Miss Daisy needed some time alone and left Toadsetta's room. She didn't want to say anything she would be sorry for later.
When she had calmed down, Miss Daisy returned to Toadsetta's room with her Bible in hand. Miss Daisy had taught Toadsetta about Jesus from the first day she came to live with her and Toadsetta knew there was always something to learn from the Bible and Miss Daisy.
"Hop up on my lap, Toadsetta." Taking a deep breath, Miss Daisy began. "Toadsetta, you did a very bad thing today."
"Please forgive me," Toadsetta pleaded.
"Of course, I will forgive you. We should always forgive others. What you did today was not only wrong, but it was against the law. You did not have permission to use my credit card and knew you shouldn't take the wood out of the boxes."
"One of God's commandments is Thou shalt not steal but you used my credit card without permission, and that certainly would be considered stealing. As far as forgiving you for what you did, if I did not forgive you for what you did today, God would not forgive me for my sins."
"God says in the Bible in Matthew 6:15"
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
"Then in Ephesians 4:32, God says:"
And be ye kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
"So you see, Toadsetta, it was wrong for you to do the things you did today, but it would be just as wrong if I did not forgive you for doing them."
"There also are consequences for things we do in life Miss Daisy explained to Toadsetta, (as best as she could to a toad). Because of what you did today, I am putting the building of your indoor pond on hold for a month, and you will be restricted from visiting Peacock Pond indefinitely."
Toadsetta said nothing, knowing she deserved the punishment received. Relieved Miss Daisy had forgiven her, and hoppy once again, Toadsetta hopped up and gave Miss Daisy one of her special Toadsetta hugs.
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