Daily Encouragement For January 26:

Six-year-old Jacob decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents breakfast. He decided to make pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, got some eggs and milk, opened the cupboard door and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk, an egg, and added some sugar, leaving a big floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.

Jacob was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven o
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, the egg carton fell and all the eggs oozed onto the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up the huge mess, but slipped on the eggs, fell, and was covered in flour and eggs.

Just then his father walked in, Jacob looked up and began to cry, he knew for sure that he was in trouble and that a spanking was coming. His father walked through the mess picked up his son and hugged him and said, “It's okay son, we'll clean up the mess together.”

Sometimes life is the same way, we try so hard to do the right things, but we get into messes when we try to do them on our own. We leave out ingredients or drop something because it is too heavy for us to carry. We may even try to clean it up, but fall into a bigger mess. We cry and cry and just know we are in trouble.

That is when God picks us up, hugs us, and says, “It's okay, we'll clean up the mess together.”

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30.