“ALMOST” PANCAKES FOR BREAKFAST

I read this story some time ago and thought you would enjoy it. There was a little six-year-old named Brandon, who decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents some pancakes. He found a big bowl in the kitchen cabinet and a large wooden spoon in the drawer. So he pulled a chair up to the counter and opened the heavy flour canister. As he tried to put some in the bowl he spilled a lot of it on the counter and on the floor. He scooped up some of the flour and put it into the bowl with his hands. Then he mixed in all the milk left in the carton, added some sugar, and when he broke the eggs part of their shells fell into the mix. Meanwhile, a floury trail was being made around the house by his kitten.

By now, Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very special for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very messy. 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.

Just then he spotted his Dad standing tall in the doorway. 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 smiled as he watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up His crying son, hugged him, and kissed him in a loving way while getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process.

Sometimes that’s how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our relationships get all sticky or we insult a friend or we can’t stand our job or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just lay 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 some pancakes for God or for others. Sooner or later we’ll get it right, and then they’ll be glad we tried. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to pass on our love to others. Remember this, the day will come when you will not wake up at all, but at least all your family and friends will know you loved them.