A Little Grace Breaks The Ice#
"A little child cannot do bad coloring; nor can a child of God do bad prayer." ~ Brennan Manning
An anonymous delight-filled true story flowed from the mouth of a babe:
Last week, I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he innocently prayed:
"God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. Amen!"
Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark:
"That's what's wrong with this country, kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why - I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me,
"Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"
As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.
He winked at my son and affirmed:
"I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."
"Really?" my son asked.
"Cross my heart," the man replied.
Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing) ...
"Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.
He picked up his sundae, and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the difficult woman.
With a big smile he told her:
"Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."
Grace is doing the unreasonable for those unreasonable, isn't that the very nature of the cross?
Today's Soul Snippet:
"The sweet sound of amazing grace saves us from the necessity of self-deception". ~ Brennan Manning
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# this true story is from an anonymous source