From time to time, I will add new stories that have inspired me throughout the years. I hope these are an inspiration to you as well.
This first story is about a Turtle Race
"Guess what, Mom? They're having a turtle race at the Downtown Celebration again this year, and I'm going to enter Myrtle in it," announced Tim one afternoon.
Mom laughed. "Okay," she agreed. "Who knows-she might win."
"I bet she will," said Tim confidently. "I'll start training her right away."
For several weeks before the race, Tim worked with Myrtle. According to the rules, he couldn't touch the turtle in any way during the race, but just about anything else to get the turtle to move was allowed.
The day of the race dawned bright and clear. Excitement ran high as each contestant placed his or her turtle at the starting line. A loud "bang" signaled the beginning of the race, and the turtles were let go. Kids who had entered a turtle in the race jumped up and down, screaming, clapping their hands, and even blowing on their turtles to get them to move faster.
Tim didn't try any of these methods. He calmly took a piece of waxed paper from his pocket. In it he had wrapped three choice spiders-Myrtle's favorite food! He dangled a spider in front of Myrtle's eyes, and his turtle moved faster and faster trying to get the tasty morsel. "Come on, old girl," he encouraged her quietly. "You can do it!" To Tim's delight, Myrtle was the first to cross the finish line! He promptly taped the blue ribbon to her back.
"Those spiders really did the trick," said Tim as they drove home, "and I even had a couple left over for Myrtle's dessert!"
Dad laughed. "You know," he said, "strange as it may seem, the turtle race today reminded me of the race we enter when we become Christians. Myrtle kept her eyes on that spider, and by following it, she won the race. We need to always keep our eyes on Jesus and follow Him."
Tim grinned. "And just like Myrtle kept looking forward to getting the spider, we look forward to being in heaven with Jesus, right?" He laughed out loud. "Heaven sure sounds better than a spider!"
How About You?
Have you "entered the race" by trusting Christ as Savior? Keep your eyes on Him by learning about Him and talking to Him. Depend on Him for strength to do what pleases Him.