15May
It is not clear to me how old I was, but I was just tall enough to see over the counter in the toy section at the neighborhood variety store. I recall looking at a toy cap gun, and although I do not remember thinking about taking something, I took a bullet from the gun. A little later at home, I do have a clear memory of becoming conscious of having taken the toy bullet. I went to my parents and confessed. They told me that we would deal with it tomorrow.
The next day my Dad and I returned to the store. Standing in the middle of the aisle looking up at two very tall men, my Dad, and the proprietor, I knew judgment was coming. As they talked, they would occasionally turn and look at me. I was sure that I was going to get a spanking. I never liked the spankings. I got quite a few of them. However, my concern was that the man my Dad was talking to was going to spank me. And that was scary.
My Dad handed him the toy bullet, with one more glance at me, the proprietor disappeared into the back of the store. I supposed he was going to get a belt or paddle. As he approached me, he was hiding something behind his back. He could not have been scarier if he had been wearing a dark hood and carrying an ax.
He bent low toward me, and I spewed out my apology, feeling that tears were not far away. I feared my impending judgment was near. The man completely surprised me by thanking me for my honesty. A sense of relief washed over me. My little mind raced, “He wouldn’t thank me and then spank me, would he?” From behind his back, he produced a toy gun. With a big smile, he handed me the toy gun, “I want to reward your honesty!” Wow! Was I surprised? That lesson helped set the course of my life!
I have had a similar encounter with Jesus! I realized that I was a sinner and confessed. Knowing I deserved judgment, I was delighted to find what the Apostle Paul described in these words, “God demonstrates his love to us, in that, even though we are sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
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