"Horace's Fall Frenzy"

“Horace’s Fall Frenzy”

Marcie and Jimmy are brother and sister and they lived on a BIG farm, with horses, cows, chickens, goats and pigs.  One of their Hogs they named Horace, now Horace was getting really BIG, he like to ‘Pig-out’ when it was feed time, and he had developed quite an attitude.  He was cantankerous, and stubborn as an old mule.  But Marcie and Jimmy had brought him up from a little pink piglet, and to them Horace was “Special.”

Now every year, at the beginning of fall, Marcie and Jimmy’s dad held a big fall bar-b-cue for all the farmers with-in a three mile radius of their farm.  They would all bring vegetables and desserts, and Marcie and Jimmy’s dad provided the ribs, chicken, and hamburgers, with all the trimmings. 

There was always enough DELICIOUS food, so much, you could feed an entire Army.  There were a couple of things that Marcie and Jimmy really liked and that was, hot buttery, corn-on-the-cob, and Mrs. McNally’s homemade, triple-decker chocolate cake with thick chocolate, melt-in-your-mouth, fudge icing, YUM! YUM!  And gallons of icy-cold, sweet tea. 

All the kids loved playing games and going on a hay-ride all around the BIG farm.  Well just before the dinner bell was to ring.  Horace couldn’t stand it any longer, the smell of all the DELICIOUS food was getting to him, so he rammed the gate to his pen and took off running as fast as his chubby little feet would go.  Before anyone could stop him, he was upon the table, headed for the HOT, BUTTERY CORN-ON-THE–COB, one more step and the table flipped over scattering ALL the vegetables, with Horace running after the corn cobs that were rolling across the yard.  And Mrs. McNally’s triple-layer, chocolate cake with the thick, chocolatey, fudge icing landed on Mr. Snodgrass’ bald head.

Finally Marcie and Jimmy’s dad, got hold of Horace and carted him back to his pen, but only after he had eaten ALL the corn-on-the-cob.  Their dad, in his anger said,  “It’s time to make some hams and bacon out of you, old boy!” 

Marcie and Jimmy’s hearts were broken, “surely Dad won’t do that to Horace?” Jimmy said.  The next morning, Marcie, Jimmy, and their mom and dad were having breakfast, and Jimmy said, “Dad, please don’t make Horace into hams and bacon, you know he’s REALLY sorry.  Can’t you forgive him and give him another chance, you know Dad, like God does with us.  He forgives us and gives us a lot of chances PLEASE!!”  Jimmy pleaded.

Well, Marcie and Jimmy’s dad looked into their tear-filled eyes as the pleaded for Horace’s life.  “Oh, ok, ONE more chance, and I‘ll forgive him this time.” Dad said.   And they were all happy, Horace had been rescued.

God forgives us and not just ONE time, but many times and He gives us many chances to make things right with Him.   Ephesians 4:32 tells us to: “Be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.”