PARABLE OF THE CORRECTION FLUID
Stories
PARSON'S PARABLES
"What is the little blue bottle? Ink?" the lady asked the secretary.
"No, that is stencil correction fluid. It covers up the mistakes you make, when you cut or type a stencil."
"Oh," said Margaret, "show me how it works."
"Well, you place your stencil sheet in the typewriter, set the ribbon at off and whatever you type the letters cut holes in the stencil where the ink may come through. When you cut a wrong letter or word, this correction fluid fills in the hole and quickly dries."
"That's good," said Margaret. "Too bad we can't cover up our mistakes as quickly."
"Well," said the secretary, "this does more than cover up the mistakes. It makes it possible to cut another word right where the former mistake was made."
With material things man has learned to repair in many ways, so that machinery and other materials may be made as good as new, but the human problem of learning to right wrongs, to forget and forgive the past is much more difficult.
With Christ as a Saviour showing the way of mercy and forgiveness and His hope for mankind to learn the lessons of love and restoration, we have an example. Children ought early to be taught the ways of forgiveness. Real happiness in the mature years depending on the skill of restoring the rightful mind through the ways of loving fellowship.
Thanksgiving and Christmas help greatly to achieve the spirit of forgiveness and love. They help to nullify the effects of jealousy and greed.
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
Galatians 6:1
PARABLE OF THE PASSING PARADE
In a small western town an old minister was marching in a Memorial Day parade along with the soldiers and dignitaries.
Gathered on the sidewalk were crowds of the local people including the town lawyer, mayor, doctor, dentist, and business executives.
A little boy standing in front said, "What's the preacher doing in the parade? What battle did he ever fight"?
Behind him the lawyer said, "Well son, he helped me personally."
The doctor said, "He has helped me with some personal problems too."
The dentist said, "He has helped me several times" and the president of a local company said, "He saved my life."
The boy said, "You mean he helped all you big people."
A little old lady spoke up, "I am not a big person, but he sure helped me. I reckon he is fighting battles all the time."
Marching in the parade the minister said, "I don't know what I am doing here. I've never been to war and my work never shows."
The major next to him said, "It is all right. You belong here. Don't belittle your ministry."
We are all intricately woven together in community life and each man's ministry is important in the total picture.
HOW IS YOUR MINISTRY TODAY?
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven.
St. Luke 6:37
PARABLE OF THE TREE BRACE
"Why are you putting that big stick next to that little tree?" said Richard.
"Someone ran over the curb with their car and knocked it down. So I'm bracing it to make it grow straight." said the father.
"Gosh, if it's that weak," said the boy, "how can it ever grow to be a beautiful tree?'
"Watch and see," said the father. "If it is guided and fed long enough it can become a tall, strong and beautiful shade tree for it is the right kind of tree."
Human beings are like trees in many ways. In the early years of growth with proper support and good care they may grow in ways that God intends and may come to the fullness of strength and beauty.
Blows that would otherwise destroy them are withstood because of the protective care; and the nourishment that is furnished at church, the school and the home all furnish important care for their members who are thus able to withstand trials that destroy lives which are denied these blessings.
Sound thinking citizens accept the responsibility of supporting those institutions which both inspire, direct and correct daily living and supply sources for human health and happiness.
Read Psalm 1:1 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."
PARABLE OF THE THREE EARS OF CORN
A father took three ears of corn from the field and handed them to his son.
"These three ears," he said, "came from the same row of corn. Do you think they will be alike."
"Let's open them and see." said the boy.
The first ear was full and beautiful. "Isn't that wonderful corn." said the boy.
The second ear was under developed and barren on one side. A large worm was in the third ear and what would have been a good ear was half eaten and ugly.
"How did that happen." asked the boy of his father.
"Well, the worm was planted early in the life of the corn and grew up inside to destroy the corn. The undeveloped ear was at the shady end of the row and spent too much time in the shadows. The good ear had the benefit of sunshine and rain."
"Humph! and they all looked so beautiful from the outside. What does this mean, Father." asked the son.
"Don't linger too long in the shadows. See the blessings of sunshine and rain. Go to Sunday School and church and destroy the worms in your childhood through prayer at home and in church. Live your life in the sunshine of God's Love."
PARABLE OF THE MISSING BUTTON
"I have a beautiful black suit, but one of the buttons is missing and I've looked all over to find one that would take its place," said Jenny.
"Why don't you get a whole new set of buttons?" asked her friend, Frances.
"Fran, you ought to see this suit. It is the buttons that make it distinctive. I can't figure where I lost the one that is right at the top. Without that one button at the top, I just can't wear the suit. It is surprising how important one button can be."
It is true that the usefulness and appearance and the value of many things may be determined by some small part of the whole.
The personality and the appearance of many people s marred by some glaring blemish. It is why advertisers make capital of statements like -- "Your best friends won't tell you," "Glasses can make you beautiful", "Halo, everybody, Halo".
There are also matters of the soul and of faith that can greatly destroy the beauty of personality and the joy of friendship.
Religion is busy in trying to provide the soul vitamins that "Overcome evil and do good." Jesus said to the rich young ruler, who abided by all the commandments from his youth and who desired to be saved from sin and presented with the keys of the kingdom, "One thing lackest, thou." Indeed, it is the reality of God that is the great lack in the hearts and minds and souls of so many.
Faith in God provides confidence for all of life. It supplies the power, which is both creative and corrective, to make ordinary lives precious and capable lives useful. Jenny was wise in seeking the one button for her suit. She was aware of the need.
"The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up? what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me."
PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN'S WIFE
Two couples stood at the altar in a double wedding ceremony. Capable, hopeful, ambitious young people they entered the ways of wedded bliss with faith and confidence.
As time wrote its story the one young man was exceedingly successful in business and year by year his income grew larger.
The other young man was successful, but his work of service never made him rich in income.
Strangely as the wealthy business man grew richer, his wife became less and less capable; so that her duties as wife, mother and homemaker became more of a burden and the care of her home and children was taken on by servants. Boredom and drink consumed her days until she became a weak and unbalanced person.
The second wife knew she was needed and carried a full load of responsibility in working with her husband to raise family, carry the cost of living and render community service.
The experiences of success and failure cemented their marriage in a commoness of understanding, which made them confident personalities and happy individuals.
By worldly gain and eminent business success the first couple wrote its social achievements with a mansion and automobiles. The second couple wrote its story in service and activity.
Wealth may impower us to do good or evil to ourselves and to others. When we measure the program and progress of our lives, we may enrich or impoverish our souls. We cannot neglect the feeding of the mind and soul with heavenly riches without severely penalizing our lives.
In the ease of the double wedding, which husband was rich?
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven; where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
PARABLE OF THE DREAM OF MONEY
"I had a wonderful dream last night," said Billy. "I was searching for gold, and I found a hole that was full of money. As fast as I pulled out the quarters, half dollars, dimes and nickels, the more was there -- and then I woke up."
"I had a dream like that once," said Dick. "It was great, but then you always have to wake up."
"Well, I guess we are supposed to earn our money," said Billy, "but that can be fun too, can't it?"
"Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't," said Dick. "I've got money in my bank upstairs, but it is more fun to find some."
There is something in the human breast that hopes for riches and new unearned gifts. Gamblers squander their substance in the hope for riches that have not been earned. The quest for satisfaction and new achievements can have its good side, if the high hope of humans is directed toward that which is worthwhile for mankind and that which is holy in the sight of our Creator.
Jesus told of the woman who rejoiced greatly in finding a lost coin, of the father who rejoiced greatly at the return of a lost son. We do not want to kill human hope in adults or children but it should be rightly directed to things which are productive of human happiness.
Billy and Dick found their happy dreams soon ended and they were realizing that earning their money was a sounder approach to life. Indeed, one who earns his way not only receives the security of his reward, but, at the same time, renders a service to his fellowman. It is this service that makes earning one's way a double blessing.
Christians seek to earn their way for the sake of the Heavenly kingdom at the same time being fully aware that life on earth and life hereafter is a gift of God through a gracious Saviour.
Read St. Matthew 6:23 -- "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
PARABLE OF THE CANDY COUNTER
Three children were taken into the candy store by their father who said, "Now each of you can have a candy bar -- whatever kind you'd like."
The first child said, "I'll take that giant-sized bar."
The youngest said, "I'd like several kinds, but I can't have chocolate. I am allergic to it, so what can I have?" Then she made her choice shortly.
The third child was dismayed at the great number of choices. She wavered back and forth and finally started to cry. "I can't make up my mind," she said in her tears. "You tell me."
"No," her father said, "it's your choice, whatever you like."
"I just don't know," cried the daughter.
Like a loving father, God offers many blessings to His children and the freedom of choice is one of the blessings, as well as a route to many important decisions. The father was teaching his three children to make their own decisions in many matters, as well as revealing a generosity.
The oldest child had already developed his taste and his choice in the matter of a candy bar. It was an easy decision.
The youngest child had learned that, though she loved chocolate, it was not good for her skin and she must choose something more suitable, which she did.
The third child was so confused with the number of choices and the desire to please her father that she was unable to make a choice.
The father loved all the children regardless, but he knew that each one must learn to make his own choices in order to be happy in life.
He knew that failure to make a choice was in itself a bad choice, for it left the child empty-handed.
This is true of many people in regards to hobbies, work, church relationships, friendship and the joy of educational growth. It is not that all candy bars are the same or that all decisions bring the same results.
There are good deeds to be done every day and, though we cannot do them all, we ought to be doing some. Life offers opportunity to be blessed and to bless others.
Proverbs 16:16 "How much better it is to get wisdom than gold and to get understanding rather than silver."
Paul R. Balliett
"No, that is stencil correction fluid. It covers up the mistakes you make, when you cut or type a stencil."
"Oh," said Margaret, "show me how it works."
"Well, you place your stencil sheet in the typewriter, set the ribbon at off and whatever you type the letters cut holes in the stencil where the ink may come through. When you cut a wrong letter or word, this correction fluid fills in the hole and quickly dries."
"That's good," said Margaret. "Too bad we can't cover up our mistakes as quickly."
"Well," said the secretary, "this does more than cover up the mistakes. It makes it possible to cut another word right where the former mistake was made."
With material things man has learned to repair in many ways, so that machinery and other materials may be made as good as new, but the human problem of learning to right wrongs, to forget and forgive the past is much more difficult.
With Christ as a Saviour showing the way of mercy and forgiveness and His hope for mankind to learn the lessons of love and restoration, we have an example. Children ought early to be taught the ways of forgiveness. Real happiness in the mature years depending on the skill of restoring the rightful mind through the ways of loving fellowship.
Thanksgiving and Christmas help greatly to achieve the spirit of forgiveness and love. They help to nullify the effects of jealousy and greed.
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
Galatians 6:1
PARABLE OF THE PASSING PARADE
In a small western town an old minister was marching in a Memorial Day parade along with the soldiers and dignitaries.
Gathered on the sidewalk were crowds of the local people including the town lawyer, mayor, doctor, dentist, and business executives.
A little boy standing in front said, "What's the preacher doing in the parade? What battle did he ever fight"?
Behind him the lawyer said, "Well son, he helped me personally."
The doctor said, "He has helped me with some personal problems too."
The dentist said, "He has helped me several times" and the president of a local company said, "He saved my life."
The boy said, "You mean he helped all you big people."
A little old lady spoke up, "I am not a big person, but he sure helped me. I reckon he is fighting battles all the time."
Marching in the parade the minister said, "I don't know what I am doing here. I've never been to war and my work never shows."
The major next to him said, "It is all right. You belong here. Don't belittle your ministry."
We are all intricately woven together in community life and each man's ministry is important in the total picture.
HOW IS YOUR MINISTRY TODAY?
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven.
St. Luke 6:37
PARABLE OF THE TREE BRACE
"Why are you putting that big stick next to that little tree?" said Richard.
"Someone ran over the curb with their car and knocked it down. So I'm bracing it to make it grow straight." said the father.
"Gosh, if it's that weak," said the boy, "how can it ever grow to be a beautiful tree?'
"Watch and see," said the father. "If it is guided and fed long enough it can become a tall, strong and beautiful shade tree for it is the right kind of tree."
Human beings are like trees in many ways. In the early years of growth with proper support and good care they may grow in ways that God intends and may come to the fullness of strength and beauty.
Blows that would otherwise destroy them are withstood because of the protective care; and the nourishment that is furnished at church, the school and the home all furnish important care for their members who are thus able to withstand trials that destroy lives which are denied these blessings.
Sound thinking citizens accept the responsibility of supporting those institutions which both inspire, direct and correct daily living and supply sources for human health and happiness.
Read Psalm 1:1 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."
PARABLE OF THE THREE EARS OF CORN
A father took three ears of corn from the field and handed them to his son.
"These three ears," he said, "came from the same row of corn. Do you think they will be alike."
"Let's open them and see." said the boy.
The first ear was full and beautiful. "Isn't that wonderful corn." said the boy.
The second ear was under developed and barren on one side. A large worm was in the third ear and what would have been a good ear was half eaten and ugly.
"How did that happen." asked the boy of his father.
"Well, the worm was planted early in the life of the corn and grew up inside to destroy the corn. The undeveloped ear was at the shady end of the row and spent too much time in the shadows. The good ear had the benefit of sunshine and rain."
"Humph! and they all looked so beautiful from the outside. What does this mean, Father." asked the son.
"Don't linger too long in the shadows. See the blessings of sunshine and rain. Go to Sunday School and church and destroy the worms in your childhood through prayer at home and in church. Live your life in the sunshine of God's Love."
PARABLE OF THE MISSING BUTTON
"I have a beautiful black suit, but one of the buttons is missing and I've looked all over to find one that would take its place," said Jenny.
"Why don't you get a whole new set of buttons?" asked her friend, Frances.
"Fran, you ought to see this suit. It is the buttons that make it distinctive. I can't figure where I lost the one that is right at the top. Without that one button at the top, I just can't wear the suit. It is surprising how important one button can be."
It is true that the usefulness and appearance and the value of many things may be determined by some small part of the whole.
The personality and the appearance of many people s marred by some glaring blemish. It is why advertisers make capital of statements like -- "Your best friends won't tell you," "Glasses can make you beautiful", "Halo, everybody, Halo".
There are also matters of the soul and of faith that can greatly destroy the beauty of personality and the joy of friendship.
Religion is busy in trying to provide the soul vitamins that "Overcome evil and do good." Jesus said to the rich young ruler, who abided by all the commandments from his youth and who desired to be saved from sin and presented with the keys of the kingdom, "One thing lackest, thou." Indeed, it is the reality of God that is the great lack in the hearts and minds and souls of so many.
Faith in God provides confidence for all of life. It supplies the power, which is both creative and corrective, to make ordinary lives precious and capable lives useful. Jenny was wise in seeking the one button for her suit. She was aware of the need.
"The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up? what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me."
PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN'S WIFE
Two couples stood at the altar in a double wedding ceremony. Capable, hopeful, ambitious young people they entered the ways of wedded bliss with faith and confidence.
As time wrote its story the one young man was exceedingly successful in business and year by year his income grew larger.
The other young man was successful, but his work of service never made him rich in income.
Strangely as the wealthy business man grew richer, his wife became less and less capable; so that her duties as wife, mother and homemaker became more of a burden and the care of her home and children was taken on by servants. Boredom and drink consumed her days until she became a weak and unbalanced person.
The second wife knew she was needed and carried a full load of responsibility in working with her husband to raise family, carry the cost of living and render community service.
The experiences of success and failure cemented their marriage in a commoness of understanding, which made them confident personalities and happy individuals.
By worldly gain and eminent business success the first couple wrote its social achievements with a mansion and automobiles. The second couple wrote its story in service and activity.
Wealth may impower us to do good or evil to ourselves and to others. When we measure the program and progress of our lives, we may enrich or impoverish our souls. We cannot neglect the feeding of the mind and soul with heavenly riches without severely penalizing our lives.
In the ease of the double wedding, which husband was rich?
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven; where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
PARABLE OF THE DREAM OF MONEY
"I had a wonderful dream last night," said Billy. "I was searching for gold, and I found a hole that was full of money. As fast as I pulled out the quarters, half dollars, dimes and nickels, the more was there -- and then I woke up."
"I had a dream like that once," said Dick. "It was great, but then you always have to wake up."
"Well, I guess we are supposed to earn our money," said Billy, "but that can be fun too, can't it?"
"Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't," said Dick. "I've got money in my bank upstairs, but it is more fun to find some."
There is something in the human breast that hopes for riches and new unearned gifts. Gamblers squander their substance in the hope for riches that have not been earned. The quest for satisfaction and new achievements can have its good side, if the high hope of humans is directed toward that which is worthwhile for mankind and that which is holy in the sight of our Creator.
Jesus told of the woman who rejoiced greatly in finding a lost coin, of the father who rejoiced greatly at the return of a lost son. We do not want to kill human hope in adults or children but it should be rightly directed to things which are productive of human happiness.
Billy and Dick found their happy dreams soon ended and they were realizing that earning their money was a sounder approach to life. Indeed, one who earns his way not only receives the security of his reward, but, at the same time, renders a service to his fellowman. It is this service that makes earning one's way a double blessing.
Christians seek to earn their way for the sake of the Heavenly kingdom at the same time being fully aware that life on earth and life hereafter is a gift of God through a gracious Saviour.
Read St. Matthew 6:23 -- "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
PARABLE OF THE CANDY COUNTER
Three children were taken into the candy store by their father who said, "Now each of you can have a candy bar -- whatever kind you'd like."
The first child said, "I'll take that giant-sized bar."
The youngest said, "I'd like several kinds, but I can't have chocolate. I am allergic to it, so what can I have?" Then she made her choice shortly.
The third child was dismayed at the great number of choices. She wavered back and forth and finally started to cry. "I can't make up my mind," she said in her tears. "You tell me."
"No," her father said, "it's your choice, whatever you like."
"I just don't know," cried the daughter.
Like a loving father, God offers many blessings to His children and the freedom of choice is one of the blessings, as well as a route to many important decisions. The father was teaching his three children to make their own decisions in many matters, as well as revealing a generosity.
The oldest child had already developed his taste and his choice in the matter of a candy bar. It was an easy decision.
The youngest child had learned that, though she loved chocolate, it was not good for her skin and she must choose something more suitable, which she did.
The third child was so confused with the number of choices and the desire to please her father that she was unable to make a choice.
The father loved all the children regardless, but he knew that each one must learn to make his own choices in order to be happy in life.
He knew that failure to make a choice was in itself a bad choice, for it left the child empty-handed.
This is true of many people in regards to hobbies, work, church relationships, friendship and the joy of educational growth. It is not that all candy bars are the same or that all decisions bring the same results.
There are good deeds to be done every day and, though we cannot do them all, we ought to be doing some. Life offers opportunity to be blessed and to bless others.
Proverbs 16:16 "How much better it is to get wisdom than gold and to get understanding rather than silver."
Paul R. Balliett
