Truth and Consequence

What is your initial response when you know someone has done something to you like, stole some of your property? This is an experience my family and I have had to contend with in the past few weeks. I have experienced a range of emotions but instead of letting my emotions get the better of me, I have tried to let the Lord guide me trough the process and I can say it was a learning experience.

A young man my husband and I have taken pretty much into our family was the culprit. The property was money and once we discovered it was missing we knew who had done it but we had to be very careful in the process in which we handled things. The incident occurred a week ago Thursday. When I initially asked this individual about it he denied it and tried to place blame on my younger son even though he had been the one seen messing with the money by both of my boys. I knew I had to devise a plan to deal with it but was unable to do anything for this past week due to my family being ill. That all changed yesterday afternoon.

After picking all the boys up from school and going to our house before baseball practice, I called all 3 boys into my living room. I address all of them as the possible culprit. I did not hold any punches. I explained the disappointment I had in the 3 of them and that not only were they lying to themselves and me they were ultimately lying to God, but told them, He already knows what you've done and it was just best to come clean. I told them that they needed to hold each other accountable and figure out the situation. I explained that I was giving one last free pass. If they told the truth that I would not make it a big ordeal, but this was the last chance. I then left the room to prepare to go to work.

Approximately 10 minutes later Zach came to get me and let me know they were ready. The young man in question came clean. He did not say he took the money on purpose. He stated that it was by accident. He thought the money was a note from his sister and put it in his pocket and that the note was the money and left it on the table. Even though I knew this was a far fetched story, I accepted the story for I knew he could have continued to deny that he took the money and I was glad he had at least fessed up even though it was not the exact truth. I never found the note in question.

For those that know my husband know his initial response to this was anger. He was very offended that this young man that we had invited into our home would do this. After taking some time and discussion we both agreed that we were going to have to place some stronger boundaries with this young man but we know we cannot turn our backs on him because that is what has happened his whole life. I am sure that is what he thought we would do to him. We are going to keep on keeping on with this because we know the ultimate goal with him is for him to accept Jesus as his Savior and hopefully teach him to be a responsible young man along the way.

I know this is one of those times that God has been speaking to my husband and I. We actually stopped yesterday and listened. We know what we must do and realized we could not follow our initial reaction to push this child away and turn our backs on him. The Lord said NO! We are continuing the work He has started for us and I know it will concluded the way He wants it to.

"I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built." Luke 6:47-48