The
Bible and the Coal Basket
The story is
told of an old man who lived on a farm in the
mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young
grandson.. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting
at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out
Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him
tried to imitate him in any way he could.
One day the
grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just
like you but I don't understand it, and what I do
understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What
good does reading the Bible do?" The Grandfather
quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and
said, "Take this coal basket down to the river and
bring back a basket of water."
The boy did as
he was told, even though all the water leaked out
before he could get back to the house. The grandfather
laughed and said, "You will have to move a little
faster next time," and sent him back to the river with
the basket to try again. This time the boy ran
faster, but again the basket was empty before he
returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather
that it was "impossible to carry water in a basket,"
and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said,
"I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of
water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard
enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy
try again.
At this point,
the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show
his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he
could, the water would leak out before he got far at
all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when
he reached his grandfather the basket was again
empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's
useless!" "So you think it is useless?" The old man
said, "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the
basket and for the first time he realized that the
basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal
basket, it was clean. "Son, that's what happens when
you read the Bible. You might not understand or
remember everything, but when you read it, it will
change you from the inside out.
That is the work of God
in our lives. To change us from the inside out and to
slowly transform us into the image of His son. Please
remember to take time to read a portion of God's word
each day.
Love and Prayers!
And may God bless and
smile on you always
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