Little John and His Friend and the Bull

Little John’s best friend was a couple of years older than Little John. So, of course, his friend was able to ride a bicycle before Little John could.

Little John’s Dad found a used bicycle and, Little John was determined to learn to ride as well as his friend could.  So, his friend would encourage and try to help Little John learn to ride.

“Okay, I’ll hold on while you peddle,” Little John’s friend said, ”Then when you get so you’re doin’ real good, I’ll turn loose and you’ll be ridin’ just like me.”

So, off Little John went, peddling as fast as his little legs would peddle.  Being able to balance wasn’t one of his positive attributes.  He would peddle; wobble and over he would go.  Then, his temper would take over and he would sit and cry.  He was so mad that he couldn’t succeed like his friend. But, after many, many, MANY attempts, skinned elbows and knees, Little John finally conquered the bicycle and he was so proud.

Adventure was one of the things the boys always looked for.  They loved riding on bridges because they were smooth, unlike the dirt roads they had to ride on.  They would ride back and forth down the old dirt roads, leaning first one way and then another seeing how far they could lean without falling over.

One day, as they were riding on one of the bridges, Little John’s friend looked up.

“Look at that old bull standin’ over there on the other side of this bridge, he said, pointing, “let’s see if we can scare him.”

So, the two boys began mooing and bawling like they had heard the cattle doing. Suddenly, the old bull put his head down and came barreling toward them.  They started peddling as fast as their legs would go with the old bull gaining ground on them. Finally, the old bull got tired of the chase and went back to grazing. The only problem was, the boys found themselves on the opposite side of the bridge from home .

“Now what are we goin’ do?” Said Little John. “We sure can’t go back across there and that old bull a standin’ there ‘cause he’s just gonna chase us again. We may be here all night. Reckon somebody will come a lookin’ for us?”

“Let’s just ride on down here to that old low water bridge and play for a while. Maybe when we come back, that old bull’ll be gone,” Said Little John’s friend. So, off they rode and sure enough, in a couple of hours when they headed back toward home, the bull was gone and they were plenty relieved.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation and wondered how you would escape?  Maybe it was somewhere you went that you shouldn’t have and someone walked in and saw you.  Or maybe it was finding yourself lying to a friend who had ask you go with them to a movie.  You said you had to study.  Later that night, when your friend called, your Mother said you had gone to a party with another friend. There you were; caught between a rock and a hard place.

Nothing that we do takes our Lord by surprise.  He knows our inner most thoughts. And, if we confess our sins to Him, He is always willing to make a way of escape.

” If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV