Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

The other day someone found some writing on the wall in our dining room.

It was really small...

As I was stooping down to look at it, I asked the kids (who can write) who had done it. They both strongly denied it. It was too small for Cambria to have done. She's still in the awkward, large letter-writing phase. Mason just looked mortified that I would even suggest it.

The first time I caught Mason in his most deliberate lie, he was about 4 and had hidden the bitter tasting stuff that I would paint on his fingers to get him to stop sucking them. He put it behind a shelf way in the corner in his closet, where he was sure I wouldn't find it. When I did and he admitted to it, I was so hurt! I thought our relationship was beyond that... but I quickly realized that lying is common to all humans and my son was no different. I disciplined him and hugged him and told him that I loved him and that I sometimes struggle with lying. Then we talked about why God doesn't like it and prayed that He would help us both to tell the truth even when it's hard.

As far as I know, the kids really don't lie to us much. I really trust them to make good choices most of the time and they ask me before they want to do almost anything (even though I don't make them). So when this situation presented itself, I was really curious who did it.

When I got really close on my hands and knees, the answer revealed itself:

It says: Kaiah's A(w)some Love Kaiah.

I tried HARD not to laugh at the blatant answer and asked her again if she had written it. She denied it again... I think she probably didn't remember she had done it... but even when I showed it to her, she still denied it.

Kaiah is like the "good" kid... rarely getting into trouble... always sweet. It was a good reminder to me that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Even though I knew this, I don't always watch for the training I may need to be doing for the secret things of her heart. This little message on the wall reveals that not only did she lie, but that she also may be building up some pride in her heart about how awesome she is :)

So I disciplined her and had the same talk with her that I had with Mason when he lied to me... She was BROKEN. So sweet and repentant (not just sad she got caught).

I was a lot like her as a kid. I was so good on the outside (most of the time) but had major war raging in my heart. I lied all the time! My parents didn't catch it much and it caught up with me as I grew older. I learned some difficult lessons as an older child and an adult that I would have rather learned as a young child. I know that God teaches us differently during certain phases and times in our lives. I am thankful that he disciplines us, his children, because he loves us.

And because we treasure Kaiah, we will be trying to watch more vigilantly for some of the more secret sins that she may struggle with. By God's grace, as she is lovingly disciplined for them when she's young, we hope that she will learn more quickly to identify those deceptive sins that are easier to hide so it's not so hard for her as an adult.

Hebrews 12:5-11

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

"My son, do not made light of the
Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he
rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he
loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts
as a son."

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.