HIDE AND SEEK
By Terri Griffin
One early Saturday morning, Plucky asked Mama Duck if she had seen his favorite ear of corn. Mama said she hadn’t. Plucky was disappointed because all the other boy ducks had their ears of corn to play baseball with and he didn’t have one. Mama said she was sorry for his situation but that she would look for it later.
The next day Prissy asked Mama if she had seen her favorite web polish or her feather brush. Mama said she hadn’t. Prissy was disappointed because all the other girl ducks were having a sleepover and were going to play “make-up” and she wouldn’t have the same things they would. Mama said she was sorry for her situation but that she would look for it later.
The next day Mama Duck couldn’t find her camera and she wanted to take family photos for the church directory. She was disappointed about the situation but figured she must have misplaced it. She decided to look for it later.
A week went by and none of the missing items had appeared. Mama Duck was frustrated and didn’t want to have to go out and buy new things.
Suddenly, Mama Duck heard lots of yelling going on in their quaint little nest. It seems all the ducklings were arguing about something. Mama Duck went to investigate. She found Plucky and Prissy yelling at Purdy and angrily going through her personal things. Purdy was yelling at them to stop. Mama Duck told everyone to stop what they were doing and that she would listen to each person’s story in turn.
Plucky told Mama that he found his favorite ear of corn under Purdy’s bed. Prissy told Mama that she found her feather brush and web polish in Purdy’s closet. Then, they both told Mama that they found Mama’s camera in Purdy’s desk. Mama Duck looked at Purdy for an explanation. “I just BORROWED THEM,” she said. “That’s ONE way of looking at it” she said. “Did you use them?” Mama asked. “Yes, but I was GOING to give them back,” Purdy replied.
Mama told Plucky and Prissy to go outside while she talked with Purdy in private. “Purdy,” Mama said, “Borrowing becomes stealing when we don’t ask permission to use things and we don’t give them back in a timely manner.” Purdy started to cry because she felt bad for what she had done.
Mama said, “I know when you were with Mama Polly you didn’t have very many nice things but now I am able to provide you with nice things. If you ask for things that you NEED, I will ALWAYS get them for you. If you ask for things that you just WANT, I MAY get them for you and then again, I may not. But, you have to ask permission to use other people’s things and you MUST give them back right away after you use them. Some things are very special to people and they don’t want to let you borrow them. You wouldn’t want your things taken in that way would you?” Purdy had to admit that she wouldn’t like her things to suddenly disappear.
After their talk, Mama and Purdy went for a walk. Mama told Purdy that she could earn an allowance if she did her chores every week without complaint. She told her that she could spend her allowance on the things she wants if Mama approves of them. This made Purdy happy and made her feel responsible in Mama’s eyes.
The next week, Purdy earned her allowance and bought some web polish, a feather brush and an ear of corn. She gave the items to Plucky and Prissy and asked them to forgive her for taking their things. They forgave her and told her she could keep the items she bought. Everyone was happy and they didn’t have to play Hide and Seek with their possessions anymore.
“ And my God will meet all your needs according
To His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19
Copyright 2008 Teresa Griffin
