THE TURTLE PICNIC

A Turtle family went on a picnic. They had prepared seven years for their outing. The family left home, searching for a suitable place. During the second year of their journey, they found it. For about six months they cleared the area, unpacked the picnic basket and completed the arrangements. They discovered, however, that they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without a salt would be a disaster, they all agreed.

After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt at home. Although he was the fastest of the slow-moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go only one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.

Three years passed-and the little turtle had not returned. Five years. Six years.  Then in the seventh year his absence, the eldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced they he was going to eat and began to unwrap a sandwich. At that point, the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, "SEE! I knew you wouldn't wait! Now, I'm not going to get the salt."

Lesson:

Some of us like the little turtle, don't trust anyone or give anyone the benefit of the doubt. We waste away our whole lives waiting for people to live up to our poor expectations of them---and they always do.

We can be thankful that God doesn't treat us that way. He accept us just the way we are. He believes in us. He cheers us on. He thinks the best of us. He is proud of us. When we mess up, He forgives and forgets, and gives us another opportunity to do good. That's how God treat us, and that's how we are to treat others. Let's not think the worst of each other. Let's expect the best.