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Barren but Blessed – Trusting God with the Rest
I Didn’t Do It
We’ve had some reoccurring issues in the honesty department. When I think we’ve gotten a handle on the story telling or the lies, something new arises. I have a “usual suspect,” but each child has taken their turn at being the culprit and it’s always a big production. I don’t understand it. We talk about the importance of being honest and have long lessons on grace and mercy. I feel like I’ve hit every possible approach and am coming up short. It’s disheartening.
After a particularly extensive episode, I contacted my son’s occupational therapist and begged for her expertise. I explained that the lying was getting out of control and I needed some ideas. In all honesty, he also needed to hear it from another source because I was pretty confident that I sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher at this point.
As a side, my son’s occupational therapist is an angel in disguise. I won’t call her out completely by throwing her name to the masses (I don’t want her to get distracted with too much fan mail after all), but I do hope she reads this and comprehends just how much she means to our family. This woman lovingly welcomes my son every week and texts how much she misses him on her off weeks. She fills the treasure box with toys that are specific to his liking and has been known to let him Amazon shop after accomplishing a particularly elusive goal. She’s his confident, cheerleader, movie buddy and for lack of a better adjective, miracle worker. We love her, plain and simple.
So, it should be obvious why I sought her expertise when I was feeling incompetent. If I couldn’t get through to him, I knew that she could. After his session that evening, she told me they had talked about it, but our discussion was cut short and I didn’t get all of the details.
Fast forward about two weeks and we have yet another situation involving honesty. After trying to get the truth to no avail, I sent all of the children to their bedrooms to think about their choices and prayed that my husband would get home quickly to save the day. When he arrived, he went into each bedroom and spoke to the children regarding the incident. My son cried. Although this would typically look like a guilty behavior, his emotions are never a good gauge, and most commonly, are completely backwards from what you would expect.
My son says,
“But daddy, I didn’t do it! I watched a lying video with Ms. **** (his OT) and I promised I would never lie again,” ::hiccup:: ::snort:: “And mommy said if I tell the truth three times she can trust me again. I told the truth yesterday and now. That’s only one more time until she trusts me!”
Is this the most precious thing you’ve ever heard?! When my husband relayed it to me, I think I let out an audible “awwww”. So sweet.
Trust is a beautiful gift and once broken so difficult to rebuild. Even as a seven-year old, my son understands that it’s not something he can throw around lightly; it must be protected.
God reiterates over and over in His word the significance of trust and although we live in a world where trust and honesty are dying trends, I refuse to let them die in my home. We may need to watch a hundred more “lying videos” and talk until I’m blue in the face, but I vow to make sure my children know the significance of honesty and trust.
Why? Because if they can’t comprehend the significance of Earthly trust, how will they ever know the peace that comes with the Heavenly variety?
Proverbs 3: 5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
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Extra Grace Required 
I love this!!
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