Fished from the Trash
Story★★★★In his book, How To Be Born Again, Billy Graham refers to a story that Corrie ten Boom used to tell of a little girl who broke one of her mother’s treasured demitasse cups. The little girl came to her mother sobbing, “Oh, mama, I’m so sorry I broke your beautiful cup.” The mother replied, “I know you’re sorry, and I forgive you. Now don’t cry any more.”
The mother then swept up the pieces of the broken cup and placed them in the trash can. But the little girl enjoyed the guilty feeling.
She went to the trash can, picked out the pieces of the cup, brought them to her mother and sobbed, “Mother, I’m so sorry I broke your pretty cup.” 1bis time her mother spoke firmly to her. “Take those pieces and put them back in the trash can and don’t be silly enough to take them out again. I told you I forgave you so don’t cry any more, and don’t pick up the broken pieces any more.”
The point
A child breaks her mother's cup and feels guilty; after forgiveness, she repeatedly retrieves broken pieces, unable to accept grace until her mother firmly redirects her to trust.