Monday, July 20, 2009

The Wicker Basket

As I was reading this story it struck me that I am such a person. I received from a friend through e-mail this story and I want to share it with you. I am not for sure who wrote this but, I want to thank them for it.

“THE WICKER BASKET”

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of
Eastern Kentucky with his young Grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up
early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His
Grandson, who wanted to be just like him, tried to imitate him in any way he could.

One day the Grandson asked, 'Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you
but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?'
The Grandfather
quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, 'Take this old
wicker coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.'
The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house.

The Grandfather laughed and said, 'You will
have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with
the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the old
wicker basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his
grandfather that it was 'impossible to carry water in a basket,' and he went
to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water;
I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard
enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak
out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but
when he reached his Grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath he said, 'See, Papa, it's useless!'

'So you think it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.'
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the
basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was clean.
'Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not
understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.'

Moral of the wicker basket story: Take time to read a portion of God's
word each day; it will affect you for good--even if you don't retain a word.

Thought for Today: God's Love is like the ocean, you can see its beginnings but not its end.

I really like this story because I don't retain things too well anymore...
old age may have something to do with it, but I figure my
brain just gets overloaded!
God isn't concerned about your brain anyway,
He's more concerned about your heart.

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Name

What Joyce Means
You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

Heart

Your Heart is Red and Green
Your heart is serene and peaceful.
You are down to earth, laid back, and secure in who you are.
You bring strength and sanity to relationships.
You're good at communicating and working through problems.