Birthday Bike

Little Carol came into the kitchen where her mother was making dinner.
Her
birthday was coming up and she thought this was a good time to tell her
mother
what she wanted. "Mom, I want a bike for my birthday."
Now, Little Carol was a bit of a troublemaker. She had gotten into
trouble at
school and at home. Carol's mother asked her if she thought she deserved
to get
a bike for her birthday. Little Carol, of course, thought she did.

Carol's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted her to reflect on her
behavior
over the last year, and write a letter to God and tell him why she
deserved a
bike for her birthday. Little Carol stomped up the steps to her room and
sat
down to write God a letter.

LETTER 1:
Dear God:
    I have been a very good girl this year and I would like a bike for
my
birthday I want a red one.
          
                      Your friend,
                      Carol

Carol knew this wasn't true.  She had not been a very good girl this
year, so
she tore up the letter and started over.



LETTER 2:
Dear God:
   This is your friend Carol. I have been a pretty good girl this year,
and I
wouldlike a red bike for my birthday.
                  Thank you,
                  Carol

Carol knew this wasn't true either. She tore up the letter and started
again.



LETTER 3:
Dear God:

  I know I haven't been a good girl this year. I am very sorry. I will
be a
good girl if you just send me a red bike for my birthday.
                  Thank you,
                  Carol

Carol knew, even if it was true, this letter was not going to get her a
bike. By
now, she was very upset.  She went downstairs and told her mother she
wanted to go to church. Carol's mother thought her plan had worked
because Carol looked very sad.

"Just be home in time for dinner," her mother said.

Carol walked down the street to the church and up to the altar. She
looked
around to see if anyone was there. She picked up a statue of the Virgin
Mary,
slipped it under her jacket and ran out of the church, down the street,
into her
house, and up to her room. She shut the door and sat down and wrote her
letter
to God.



LETTER 4:
I GOT YOUR MAMA.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN, SEND THE BIKE.

              Signed,
              YOU KNOW WHO