The Duck and the Devil

I never forward emails but this is well-expressed (a little sappy but good) so it will be shared here:

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on
their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out
in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could
never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he
headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw
Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the
slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and
killed it. He was shocked and grieved.
In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile;
only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it
all, but she said nothing.
After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's
wash the dishes" But Sally said, "Grandma , Johnny told
me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she
whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did
the dishes.
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted
to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need
Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and
said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he
wanted to help" She whispered again, "Remember the
duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and
Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came
to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.
Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said,
"Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the
window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love
you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you
would let Sally make a slave of you."
Thought for the day and every day thereafter?
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done...
and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face
(lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred,
anger, bitterness, etc.)...whatever it is ...You need
to know that God was standing at the window and He saw
the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to
know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.
He's just wondering how long you will let the devil
make a slave of you. The great thing about God is
that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only
forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and
mercy that we are saved.