Lazy Donkey Makes Good After All!

This book was published in 1944 when Gram was only 1 year old and it cost 19 cents. Pretty expensive, since back then your great grandfather made $1 a day working for a local farmer.

Probably Grammie Ruth got tired of reading this one to me, since I wore out the first copy and my parents had to replace it. But can't you tell from the cover that this was a charming, little book? It was a picture book, but if I recall correctly most of the pictures were printed in red and white.

NO-GOOD was always finding himself in trouble with the farmer, especially if there was any music playing when they went to the market with a cartload of goods. The happy-go-lucky little donkey loved to dance and he didn't like work that much. I remember that he went "clippety-clop, clippety clop" down the road. So when he danced and played, he was not in great favor with the farmer that owned him.

How do I feel about being lazy? Well, I don't recommend it. It is NOT a good thing to be lazy. It makes life hard for other people. And lazy people aren't happy because God created us to work. We should be willing to work hard at what we are asked to do. Why? Because GOD says that whatever we do, we should be doing it for GOD. That means we should do our very best. That means we shouldn't try to take the easy way out and selfishly leave the hard work for other people.

Yes, NO-GOOD goofed off and he shouldn't have done that. But NO-GOOD's day came at last when people saw him dancing and began to toss coins his way. Suddenly, as he gathered mounds of coins, the farmer thought the little donkey was pretty special after all. (It IS nice to be appreciated!)  From that time on, NO-GOOD was able to use his talents and make a profit at the same time. 

I called the book "Clippety-Clop". I guess my little mind loved the rhythm of those words being repeated. Or maybe I liked the whole idea of playing and having fun all the time. Of course when somebody 2 or 3 years old is playing, they ARE learning things that will help them and others all of their lives.

There are two lessons in this book that I want to pass along. Number one is that NOBODY has to be NO-GOOD! Everyone has gifts and talents that can be put to good use. That includes YOU. And it includes others. Don't put people down because they aren't good at sports or cooking. They are good at something else and we should appreciate it.

 Number two is to be thankful to the Lord for your gifts and talents and use them for good. Watch for the gifts you have been given and use them to bless others -- even put them to use in a career or in your home someday. Don't you think it would be great to make a living doing what you LOVE to do?

Just a few years ago, Aunt Valerie helped me to find a copy of THIS book and I am SO happy to have it!