Johnny and his sister Susan went to live on the farm with their grandparents after their parents were killed in a car accident. Feeding the animals and helping with chores seemed like a lot of fun, and soon they were adjusting to their great loss. Johnny liked the open country where he would sometimes amuse himself by throng stones at real and pretend targets.
One day, he was throwing stones at different objects, trying to get as close as possible without actually hitting the targets. “Hey, Johnny,” called his sister, “see how close you can get to Grandma’s pet goose without hitting it!”
Johnny took aim and threw a large stone. Just then the goose took a step forward into the path of the stone. It struck the goose on the head and she rolled over—DEAD!
Grandma’s favorite pet, “Mollie,” was dead! Johnny’s face turned white as he thought of how badly Grandma would feel. In panic he grabbed a shovel, dug a hole behind the barn, and quickly buried the dead goose.
That evening just before supper Grandma asked Susan to walk out to the mailbox to get the newspaper. As soon as Susan got out of Grandma’s hearing, she turned to Johnny and ordered, with new-found authority, “Go get the paper.”
“Hey, that’s your job!” he complained.
“Well...how about Grandma’s goose?” she asked with a sneer. “Should I tell her...?”
Johnny was already on his way to the mailbox.
After supper Grandma asked Susan to sweep the front porch. Knowing what was coming next, Johnny tried to hide, but Susan was right behind him.
“Grandma wants you to sweep the front porch,” she said in mock sweetness.
“No way!” he snorted.
“How about Grandma’s goose?” she nagged. She had the upper hand and Johnny knew it.
For several days Susan ordered Johnny around, enjoying every minute of it.
Each time Grandma asked about the goose they both would act innocent—Johnny because of his guilt and fear, and Susan because of the power it gave her over Johnny.
On Saturday Grandpa announced that he was going into town and asked if they would like to join him. Susan quickly accepted, but Johnny decided to stay at home. By now his guilt hung over him like a thunder cloud and he wanted to be alone for a while.
After thinking about it Johnny decided to confess it all to Grandma. He found her in the sewing room in her favorite rocking chair. With eyes already filling with tears, he walked slowly up to her.
“Grandma...I...I...I have something to t-t-tell you,” he mumbled.
Peering at him over her glasses, she could tell that something was wrong. “Johnny, what is it?”
“Grandma, I didn’t tell you the truth about Mollie.” His tears were rolling now. There was no turning back as he blurted out his confession.
“I was throwing a rock near Mollie last Friday, and she walked right in front of it. I didn’t mean to kill her. I was so scared...I buried her behind the barn. Grandma, I’m sorry... please forgive me,” he sobbed.
Grandma put her sewing down, removed her glasses and, putting her arm around Johnny, pulled him close. “I saw it all from the window. I know it was an accident. I’m so glad you finally told me all about it. Of course Grandma forgives you. I love you very much. We’ll get another goose, okay?”
She wiped his tears and gave him a big hug and a kiss. He heaved a big sigh of relief, and it was a different boy who bounded out the door with new-found happiness.
Grandpa’s pickup truck pulled into the driveway, and Susan came running up the steps and into the house. A few minutes later she came out looking for Johnny.
“You need to do the dishes for Grandma!” she announced to Johnny.
“Oh no I don’t,” he answered, “she asked you!”
“Johnny,” she whined threateningly, “how about Grandma’s goose?”
Johnny stood tall with a smile of triumph. His confession and Grana’s forgiveness had removed the weight of that guilt from him. He was no longer a slave to anyone.
Looking boldly into Susan’s eyes, he repeated her question, “HOW ABOUT GRANDMA’S GOOSE?” He was free at last!
‘This little story is a picture of Romans 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
We have all sinned, but trying to “work off” the guilt as Johnny tried will not free us of its slavery. There is only one way to be free, the way Johnny finally found freedom. Let us confess our sin and receive forgiveness from the Lord Jesus who already knows about it and is just waiting for us to come to Him. We must believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is our only hope, and that He died on the cross for sinners.
If you believe that He died for your sins, He promises you everlasting life. Won’t you accept Him as your Saviour now?
ML-01/02/1983