Somebody Call Dad

I remember one day in particular. After receiving a healthy dose of correction from my father in the front yard (that I undoubtedly deserved), I stormed around to the back yard with my mouth leading the way. I was hot and let loose a barrage of words, calling him everything I could think of, most of which I didn’t even understand, but they sounded good. The problem being, I was saying them out loud and my mother just happened to be quietly putting laundry on the clothesline, hearing every one of them. Oh no… I screwed up again. Please don’t tell Dad...

"The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!" (Luke 12:2-3)

Unfortunately, we can't hide from our mistakes. We can't run from our problems. Whatever we think we are saying in private will eventually come out publicly. Mom will always tell Dad.

The scandalous truth about grace is that it flips the narrative.

The Bible takes "I've screwed up, don't tell Dad" and turns it into "I've screwed up, somebody call Dad". When we put ourselves in the valley of the shadow of death, God doesn't leave us to our own screw ups. He stands beside us if we ask Him. Doing the next right thing is calling upon Him for grace, direction, and on-field adjustments. He loves us even when we struggle with ourselves.

The book of Jeremiah (31:3) says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with loving kindness I have drawn you to myself". Everlasting love means despite our failures, mistakes, and screw ups. Then He wraps the whole book up with these words at the end of Revelation: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's holy people". Scandalous, endless grace.

Don't cover them up, don't run from them, don't blame somebody else. Own your mistakes, shine a big, bright light on them, and seek grace, wisdom, growth, and everlasting love. Be drawn to Him.

Oh no... I screwed up…again...somebody call Dad.