PARABLE OF GRANTING YOUR WISHES
Stories
PARSON'S PARABLES
The old philosopher in a homespun setting was talking to his three nephews. "If I would grant you one wish today my children, what would it be?"
"Oh, good, give me one thousand dollars," said Richard, "and I could buy everything I want."
"Give me the answers to next Friday's test," said Mary, "and I will have the best grades in the class."
"I know what I want," said Janet. "Give me a good friend who will always love me and I will always love her as my favorite playmate."
"I think Janet has asked for the best gift of all," said Uncle Bill. In time Richard, you'll have many thousands of dollars and they may not be enough. Mary, if you would learn to study and find the answers, it would be more valuable than someone giving you the answers. For if you can't learn yourself to think rightly then your one-hundred percent rating this week might turn to failure next week,
But, Janet, finding true friendship is the world's need for all people and you will best have your wish by being a true friend to everyone. The world's greatest treasure is still friendship. The kind of friendship that expresses love in word and in action and makes for joyous companionship and kindly understanding. If you would be a part of the world's greatest treasure, be a real friend to someone today."
"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24
PARABLE OF HOW FOUR BOYS GOT THERE
Four boys stood watching the parade some ten miles from the high school classes they were supposed to be. The event was important to them.
"How did you get here" asked Dick.
"I borrowed my father's car."
"I took the bus," said Bill.
"I thumbed a ride," said Jack.
"Well, at least we all got here, didn't we," said Bill. "Nothing could keep me away."
"Me either," said Jack. "When I want to go some place, I go."
It is surprising how easily we find a way to go where we want to go. And it is strange how difficult we make it to get to some places where we ought to be.
When we stand before the altar of God, and worship each Sabbath Day, each of us may ask the question, "What brought me here?" And whatever the answer, if we truly worship and strengthen our portion in faith, we may say, "Thanks be to God who led me to His throne."
We are not meant to judge what brought people to church, for the Creator works in strange ways His wonders to perform. John Wesley observing the drunk in the gutter said, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."
When we observe those who receive great honors, we may question, "How did they get them?" But we ought to rejoice that good deeds have been performed. It is natural to be attracted to dramatic events. Next best, to being in the parade for the boys, was to watch it. Next best to doing good deeds is to observe them and encourage them.
Read St.John 10:9 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
PARABLE OF ASSOCIATION
Jerry went out to play in the barnyard and as he watched the pigs wallowing in the mud he seemed to envy the fun they were having and soon he himself first waded and then sat down slopping in the mud.
As some friends passed by, one said, "I see farmer Brown has another pig in his pen. He now has ten pigs."
But Jerry stood up indignantly and hollered, "Hey, I'm not a pig, I'm a boy."
In this day of social mixing and down to earth living there is still a real need for marking yourself for what you are.
It is often difficult to tell Christians from non-Christians because people fail to identify themselves and the pig likes to drag others down to his level.
There are some who say, "I can be a Christian without going to Church. I can be a Christian without being charitable. I can be a Christian and drink and gamble and do as I please. I can be a Christian without teaching or rendering any service." They are only deceiving themselves.
The kingdom advances on the shoulders and in the hearts of those who give themselves to Christ's cause.
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
St. Matthew 7:20, 21
PARABLE OF THE CAFETERIA
Two counter girls stood at their post of supply in the cafeteria. As they kept the display of foods replaced, they conversed.
One said, "It just aggravates me to watch these hungry wolves snatch up the beautiful salads we have made. I don't think they see any of the beauty or skill in our work. In a few moments the artistic salad is torn to pieces by their teeth."
Said the second girl, "I look at it in a different way. It pleases me to think that these hungry people will shortly leave our place feeling stronger and better able to do whatever their work may be. I like to think of our supplying the power, that they use to serve, as a result of eating our food. Each time they take one of my salads I accept it as another person who has voted in favor of my service and one who has been attracted by my display. I consider it a compliment."
The lives of all humanity are interwoven endlessly. We live in a world of many choices.
As different foods are attractive to different people and each may go forth from the cafeteria having chosen to his satisfaction; so we choose our own happiness by what we see and how we interpret it. The Christian life is ruled by a God of love and a Savior who seeks to bless all who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
St. John 3:16
PARABLE OF THE MIRROR
The person you see
In your mirror today
Can tell you a lot
That's ahead on the way.
When smiles are sincere
And the friendships are true,
He's reflecting a lot
Of what others see too.
When you honestly face him
And know that he's right
You know that his spirit
Will give forth a light.
The world, like a mirror
Returns all your frowns
Reflecting each mood
The ups and the downs.
If you think that the world
Is all wrong in its way,
Go visit your mirror.
See what it may say.
For the mirror is honest
Returning each gift
And we hope that the face there
Will give you a lift.
PARABLE OF TWO CHRISTMAS PRAYERS
The first was a prayer of a child.
Dear Jesus, please tell Santa Clause to help the hungry children and give them homes and loving parents and food and fun and friends. If Santa can't be there, their parents will take care of them and that is better than any one any day. Dear Jesus, see if you can't do this cause I hear there are so many who are so sick, so sad and so lonely. Tell Santa to do this first and I won't mind if he misses me, cause I have the Y.M.C.A., the Church and best of all a good home. Love, John
The second was a prayer of an adult.
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to help others in the spirit of Christ. Let me both say and do the things, which will make it a better world. Let my love overcome all prejudice and selfishness and laziness, that all may know Thy Spirit and rejoice this Christmas in the ways of mercy and forgiveness that Thy world may be brought into righteousness and peace. Amen.
And Christ heard both their prayers and in their hearts was peace and power and purpose and Christmas was real.
PARABLE OF THE RECORD
"Put your dime in the machine and punch A-3," said the girl. "That's my favorite record."
"Mary, you don't want to hear that again!" said Bill. "They've just played it three times."
"That's all right," said Mary, "on pay day I'm buying that record and I'm going to play it over and over."
"Don't forget you are going to church with me Sunday," said Bill.
"I don't know whether I'm going or not," said Mary. "It's always the same old thing."
"You better go," said Bill, "you need it. After listening to Frankie holler on that record over and over, there are a number of things that should be repeated to you."
It is true that people like best that which is familiar to them and at the same time often reject that which is repetitious. But all people want Christmas to be Christmas, Easter to be Easter and Thanksgiving to be Thanksgiving.
To often they do not see that the joy of the harvest cannot be realized without the labor of spring and the cultivation of summer. The childlike joy of surprise on Christmas morning is the result of careful shopping as well as the use of hard earned money and Easter would not be with us without the crucifixion of Good Friday. There are many things that we learn slowly and by great repetition. Great things have a great price.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
St. Matthew 6:33
PARABLE OF THE FLAME AND THE SPIRIT
"If you know so much about God, tell me what this is," asked the local citizen, as he held up a lighted match. "I mean, what is flame and what is fire? Explain it to me."
"Well," puzzled the preacher, "we are told it is conversion of energy, of power and of substance changing from one form to another. We know it serves mankind, but wrongly used can be of great destruction."
Perhaps the action of fire, which worshippers of ancient times used to worship as God itself, does reveal something of what God in His marvelous power continues to do in so many ways.
The refiner's fire or the purger's fire, which Jesus mentioned, was to cleanse the soul and remove the dross. While the fire burns, the original fuel disintegrates and the material takes on new form, though perhaps unseen.
Physicists tell us that no energy, nothing is ever lost. It merely changes from solid to liquid or gas and new growth and development is the reverse process.
So, too, we may also see something of the working of heaven in the flame of the spirit as in death we change from the earthly body to the unseen spiritual body and we recognize that God is at work in all things.
"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."
I Corinthians 15:42, 44
"Oh, good, give me one thousand dollars," said Richard, "and I could buy everything I want."
"Give me the answers to next Friday's test," said Mary, "and I will have the best grades in the class."
"I know what I want," said Janet. "Give me a good friend who will always love me and I will always love her as my favorite playmate."
"I think Janet has asked for the best gift of all," said Uncle Bill. In time Richard, you'll have many thousands of dollars and they may not be enough. Mary, if you would learn to study and find the answers, it would be more valuable than someone giving you the answers. For if you can't learn yourself to think rightly then your one-hundred percent rating this week might turn to failure next week,
But, Janet, finding true friendship is the world's need for all people and you will best have your wish by being a true friend to everyone. The world's greatest treasure is still friendship. The kind of friendship that expresses love in word and in action and makes for joyous companionship and kindly understanding. If you would be a part of the world's greatest treasure, be a real friend to someone today."
"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24
PARABLE OF HOW FOUR BOYS GOT THERE
Four boys stood watching the parade some ten miles from the high school classes they were supposed to be. The event was important to them.
"How did you get here" asked Dick.
"I borrowed my father's car."
"I took the bus," said Bill.
"I thumbed a ride," said Jack.
"Well, at least we all got here, didn't we," said Bill. "Nothing could keep me away."
"Me either," said Jack. "When I want to go some place, I go."
It is surprising how easily we find a way to go where we want to go. And it is strange how difficult we make it to get to some places where we ought to be.
When we stand before the altar of God, and worship each Sabbath Day, each of us may ask the question, "What brought me here?" And whatever the answer, if we truly worship and strengthen our portion in faith, we may say, "Thanks be to God who led me to His throne."
We are not meant to judge what brought people to church, for the Creator works in strange ways His wonders to perform. John Wesley observing the drunk in the gutter said, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."
When we observe those who receive great honors, we may question, "How did they get them?" But we ought to rejoice that good deeds have been performed. It is natural to be attracted to dramatic events. Next best, to being in the parade for the boys, was to watch it. Next best to doing good deeds is to observe them and encourage them.
Read St.John 10:9 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
PARABLE OF ASSOCIATION
Jerry went out to play in the barnyard and as he watched the pigs wallowing in the mud he seemed to envy the fun they were having and soon he himself first waded and then sat down slopping in the mud.
As some friends passed by, one said, "I see farmer Brown has another pig in his pen. He now has ten pigs."
But Jerry stood up indignantly and hollered, "Hey, I'm not a pig, I'm a boy."
In this day of social mixing and down to earth living there is still a real need for marking yourself for what you are.
It is often difficult to tell Christians from non-Christians because people fail to identify themselves and the pig likes to drag others down to his level.
There are some who say, "I can be a Christian without going to Church. I can be a Christian without being charitable. I can be a Christian and drink and gamble and do as I please. I can be a Christian without teaching or rendering any service." They are only deceiving themselves.
The kingdom advances on the shoulders and in the hearts of those who give themselves to Christ's cause.
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
St. Matthew 7:20, 21
PARABLE OF THE CAFETERIA
Two counter girls stood at their post of supply in the cafeteria. As they kept the display of foods replaced, they conversed.
One said, "It just aggravates me to watch these hungry wolves snatch up the beautiful salads we have made. I don't think they see any of the beauty or skill in our work. In a few moments the artistic salad is torn to pieces by their teeth."
Said the second girl, "I look at it in a different way. It pleases me to think that these hungry people will shortly leave our place feeling stronger and better able to do whatever their work may be. I like to think of our supplying the power, that they use to serve, as a result of eating our food. Each time they take one of my salads I accept it as another person who has voted in favor of my service and one who has been attracted by my display. I consider it a compliment."
The lives of all humanity are interwoven endlessly. We live in a world of many choices.
As different foods are attractive to different people and each may go forth from the cafeteria having chosen to his satisfaction; so we choose our own happiness by what we see and how we interpret it. The Christian life is ruled by a God of love and a Savior who seeks to bless all who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
St. John 3:16
PARABLE OF THE MIRROR
The person you see
In your mirror today
Can tell you a lot
That's ahead on the way.
When smiles are sincere
And the friendships are true,
He's reflecting a lot
Of what others see too.
When you honestly face him
And know that he's right
You know that his spirit
Will give forth a light.
The world, like a mirror
Returns all your frowns
Reflecting each mood
The ups and the downs.
If you think that the world
Is all wrong in its way,
Go visit your mirror.
See what it may say.
For the mirror is honest
Returning each gift
And we hope that the face there
Will give you a lift.
PARABLE OF TWO CHRISTMAS PRAYERS
The first was a prayer of a child.
Dear Jesus, please tell Santa Clause to help the hungry children and give them homes and loving parents and food and fun and friends. If Santa can't be there, their parents will take care of them and that is better than any one any day. Dear Jesus, see if you can't do this cause I hear there are so many who are so sick, so sad and so lonely. Tell Santa to do this first and I won't mind if he misses me, cause I have the Y.M.C.A., the Church and best of all a good home. Love, John
The second was a prayer of an adult.
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to help others in the spirit of Christ. Let me both say and do the things, which will make it a better world. Let my love overcome all prejudice and selfishness and laziness, that all may know Thy Spirit and rejoice this Christmas in the ways of mercy and forgiveness that Thy world may be brought into righteousness and peace. Amen.
And Christ heard both their prayers and in their hearts was peace and power and purpose and Christmas was real.
PARABLE OF THE RECORD
"Put your dime in the machine and punch A-3," said the girl. "That's my favorite record."
"Mary, you don't want to hear that again!" said Bill. "They've just played it three times."
"That's all right," said Mary, "on pay day I'm buying that record and I'm going to play it over and over."
"Don't forget you are going to church with me Sunday," said Bill.
"I don't know whether I'm going or not," said Mary. "It's always the same old thing."
"You better go," said Bill, "you need it. After listening to Frankie holler on that record over and over, there are a number of things that should be repeated to you."
It is true that people like best that which is familiar to them and at the same time often reject that which is repetitious. But all people want Christmas to be Christmas, Easter to be Easter and Thanksgiving to be Thanksgiving.
To often they do not see that the joy of the harvest cannot be realized without the labor of spring and the cultivation of summer. The childlike joy of surprise on Christmas morning is the result of careful shopping as well as the use of hard earned money and Easter would not be with us without the crucifixion of Good Friday. There are many things that we learn slowly and by great repetition. Great things have a great price.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
St. Matthew 6:33
PARABLE OF THE FLAME AND THE SPIRIT
"If you know so much about God, tell me what this is," asked the local citizen, as he held up a lighted match. "I mean, what is flame and what is fire? Explain it to me."
"Well," puzzled the preacher, "we are told it is conversion of energy, of power and of substance changing from one form to another. We know it serves mankind, but wrongly used can be of great destruction."
Perhaps the action of fire, which worshippers of ancient times used to worship as God itself, does reveal something of what God in His marvelous power continues to do in so many ways.
The refiner's fire or the purger's fire, which Jesus mentioned, was to cleanse the soul and remove the dross. While the fire burns, the original fuel disintegrates and the material takes on new form, though perhaps unseen.
Physicists tell us that no energy, nothing is ever lost. It merely changes from solid to liquid or gas and new growth and development is the reverse process.
So, too, we may also see something of the working of heaven in the flame of the spirit as in death we change from the earthly body to the unseen spiritual body and we recognize that God is at work in all things.
"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."
I Corinthians 15:42, 44
