Our Slippery Slopes!

Every parent faces the question of how to teach their children the principles of truth, and truthfulness even when they fear the repercussions of their honesty or confession. Interestingly, even though you spend a lifetime doing the training, following through with the discipline and setting the example for them; there is no guarantee that they will tell the truth, even when they've been caught red-handed. And, I have to say it amazes me what lengths a young person will go through to deny their involvement in something!

I remember one time I came home from work, and began preparing dinner. I noticed the kitchen floor was particularly slippery . . . but, in my rush to get the job done I blew off the fact that I was feeling a bit like Bambi on ice as I moved from the stove to the sink. However, I couldn't blow off the fact that the can of spray "Pam" that was sitting in a pool, when I reached for it, was literally dripping with an oily residue that ran down the side of the can. I couldn't blow off the fact that the rim was swimming in a wet slime, or that the lid was slick and barely sitting on top of the can! So, I knew something was up! It was then that I bent over, felt the floor and noticed a greasy residue on the long open ended kitchen floor. Hmmmm, I "sez" to myself . . . "something is up here!" Well, figuring out that the Pam had been sprayed on the floor and very likely kids had been running from the dining room, into the living room, down the hall and then playing slip-and-slide in the kitchen, didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out! I went into the laundry room and my suspicions were confirmed with 2 pair of greasy bottomed socks in the hamper.

So, at the dining table when everyone was thoroughly enjoying their meal . . . I launched the question that I already knew the answer to. "Can anyone tell me why the kitchen floor is slippery?" I watched as faces bobbed up, eyebrows raised then formed a puzzled look. But, it was their guilty swallows that nearly made me laugh. And, I must say I was NOT surprised by the answers of "huh?" And, "Nope, is it slippery?" I said to them, "Look, I already know what happened, so you both may as well just fess up and remember; honesty is always your best policy!" Do you think that brought forth truth? Not, on your life! After about 10 minutes of crafty denials and sweaty palms (theirs, not mine) I shared with them just what I suspected. Since I shared it with matter-of-fact-ness in my voice, the looks on their faces as I nailed what they'd been up to, was priceless! It was then that they asked if there would be any grace for them if they confess right here and right now. Now, for a parent, this is a dilemma. Did they deserve grace? They didn't confess on being asked the first time. They didn't confess when there was ample opportunity, and they didn't confess until they were cornered and they knew it, and in fact, they hadn't yet confessed . . . they were really trying to weigh their options. So, should the parent extend grace . . . or exact punishment?

As I remember (this was over 12 years ago) I did both. They were given grace since in fact they were willing to come clean with only a lecture, but they did have to mop the floor and clean up that greasy mess in the kitchen cabinet.

I was remembering this event when I read the passage in Proverbs 1:8 & 9 that says:

"By loving kindness and truth, iniquity is purged, and by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil."

I realize that discipline IS loving kindness and training our children to be honest and to readily confess our sins, is a hedge of protection that we place around them from the evil world that surrounds them. It was in this moment of reflection that I realize something even greater, and that is this; that God also extends grace AND exacts punishment . . . so that . . . we learn to keep away from evil. I no more like punishment now, than those kids did, then. And I'm not any quicker to admit my wrongdoing than they were. My Heavenly Father knows my motives, my heart, and my attitudes. He knows my love for reputation, my prejudices, and my arrogance. God sees every angle of my unforgivenesses, my grudges and my criticisms. He knows when I try to angle my way out of my responsibility in a matter. He knows when I try to edge out of a "slippery" situation so that I don't have to take any ownership . . . just as those kids had done when having to face their "slippery" slope!

What do I mean when I say that God extends grace and exacts punishment? I mean that when I ask God to forgive me, He does. But, I still reap a harvest of seeds that I've sown. Yet,in His grace, God extends to me the ability to walk through the results of my harvest, and more often than not, He miraculously takes that harvest and uses it for my good and His glory!! Sometimes, I'm blessed enough to have sown some of those seeds on rocky soil, so that they didn't take root and therefore there is little harvest. I'm amazed at how He turns my many situations around, on my behalf. Now that's grace!