Today’s Post By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis
After my husband picked up the ringing telephone, I could tell from the look on his face… it wasn’t good.
“Gerry, I don’t want to cause trouble between us but we need to talk about your son.”
Definitely not the kind of phone call a parent wants to receive.
Our next-door neighbor was usually cordial, but not today. He was very distressed.
Gerry assured our neighbor that whatever it was we would deal with it accordingly, just as soon as we knew what happened.
“I’ll tell you what happened!” Ron fumed, “Your son drew all over the side of my brand new Mustang with a rock!”
This was certainly out of character for our, then, four year old son. Ben wasn’t in the habit of destroying other people’s property. Trying to discern the situation, Gerry prodded a bit further. “Ron, I can tell that you are very upset, and given the situation I can certainly understand why, but how do you know that it was our son who drew on your car; did you see him do it?”
“No, I didn’t see him do it; but I know it was him.” Ron shot back adamantly.
“Well, if you didn’t actually see Ben do it, how do you know it was him?” Gerry pleaded for our son’s innocence.
Ron countered matter-of-factly, “I think you should come over and see for yourself.”
Sure enough, Gerry walked over and right there in big, bold, four year-old penmanship was the incriminating evidence… B-E-N. Our son had signed his artwork. There was no denying it.
Needless to say, we had a little talk with our boy, explaining the dos and don’ts of cars and gravel driveways.
After a stern lecture, Gerry escorted Ben over to our neighbor’s house where he confessed his error in person. And after apologies were made, Gerry accepted full responsibility and made right what our little boy had done wrong.
Sound familiar?
I know another Father who accepts full responsibility for His children’s errors.
When you and I confess our sins and turn away from wrong doings, Jesus makes right what we have done wrong.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Just like our little boy, you and I could never make restitution for our sin. The cost is just too great. We need the help of our Father. He takes our debt and marks it “PAID IN FULL!”
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)
