Scripture: Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. (Psalm 32:1 NIV).

I ‘ve always loved chocolate, but when I was a small child, we seldom could afford it. Somehow Mama got enough cocoa to bake my brother a birthday cake. It was the best thing I’d ever eaten! I begged for an extra helping, but she very wisely put the remainder high out of my reach. We had a free-standing gray wooden dish cupboard about eighteen inches square, perhaps six feet tall. Mama placed the cake on top of this cupboard and probably thought, “Surely it’s safe from Joanne’s greedy fingers.”

But she reckoned without the bull-dog determination of a six-year-old. Next afternoon, I came home from school to find the house empty. Daddy was working, my brother still in school, and Mama outside tending our garden. There was only me—and the wonderful cake. It was far above my head, but that didn’t stop me. I simply used the cupboard shelves as a ladder.

You can guess what happened: About half-way up, the cupboard overbalanced and fell, shattering all Mama’s pretty dishes and splattering the cake everywhere.

As any small child would do, I ran screaming to my mother, even though I knew I’d be punished within an inch of my life. For once, though, Mama didn’t even spank me. She held me in her arms, dried my tears, and helped me pick up the broken pieces.

Throughout my life, I have made many other bad choices. But the forgiveness my mother showed that day taught me that even the worst misdeeds can be forgiven. When I’m in trouble, I run to my Heavenly Father for help. Without fail, He too holds me in His arms, dries my tears, and helps me pick up the pieces of my life.

 Prayer: Father, I can never thank You enough for your awesome forgiveness!  I love You so much!