There was a musician who was exceptionally talented and a gifted player of fiddle.

He was once performing before a large audience, who were enjoying the heavenly melody with rapt attention and great appreciation. He was playing his own favourite fiddle which had four strings and a bow.

As the program progressed, one of the strings broke. But he continued to perform without interruption. Then a second string also broke. Still he continued the music without break. After a while, the third string also broke. He continued his magic performance with a single string, with excellent expertise. His music was so melodious that no one could feel the great tragedy that occurred during the performance.

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This incident teaches us that for a really talented and gifted musician, a single string is sufficient to create a miraculous melody. The mighty Goliath was felled by a single small stone in the gifted hands of David, because God was with David {1 Samuel 17: 49, 50}. Jesus employed the simple and humble gift of five loaves and two fish from a boy to feed the thousands who had assembled to hear His sermon {John 6: 9-13}.

God has given every person a generous gift of special talents, which we often hide and refuse to use. (Matthew 25: 14-30 and Luke 19: 11-27). “Each one of us has received a special gift in proportion to what Christ has given” {Ephesians 4: 7}. We must serve God and our fellow men utilizing fully, all the talents and gifts God has given to us (Ephesians 4:11, 12}.

My friend Marge had an experience aboard a plane bound for Cleveland, while waiting for takeoff.

As she settled into her seat, Marge noticed a strange phenomenon. On one side of the airplane a sunset suffused the entire sky with glorious color. But out of the window next to her seat, all Marge could see was a dark and threatening sky, with no sign of the sunset.

As the plane’s engines began to roar, a gentle Voice spoke within her. “You have noticed the windows,” He murmured beneath the roar of the engines and thrust of the takeoff.

“Your life, too, will contain some happy, beautiful times, but also some dark shadows. Here’s a lesson I want to teach you to save you much heartache and allow you to “abide in Me” with continual peace and joy. You see, it doesn’t matter which window you look through; this plane is still going to Cleveland. So it is in your life. You have a choice.

You can dwell on the gloomy picture. Or you can focus on the bright things and leave the dark, ominous situations to Me. I alone can handle them anyway. The final destination is not influenced by what you see or feel along the way. Learn this, act on it and you will be released, able to experience the peace that passes understanding.”

- – - written by Angel

When I was a little boy, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said: “Baby, I love burned biscuits.”

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned.. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she’s real tired.. And besides – a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!”

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You know, life is full of imperfect things…… and imperfect people I’m not the best housekeeper or cook.

What I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults – and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences – is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that’s my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He’s the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn’t a deal-breaker!