Do you ever feel blindsided in parenting? The only reason I know that term is because of the movie. I think it is fair to say that it feels like an unexpected tackle when it hits. That is exactly what happened just the other day in our home. We had all the “right plays” in place and felt prepared. Then bam we were hit and taken to the ground. Heartbreak and defeat were shouting loudly after the surprise. What had gone wrong? How did this happen? Does this child not know their worth and love? How had they been so deceived by satan?

One sinful decision made can lead to a web not easily escaped from. This I know to be true. However, I also know the power of what Jesus’ death and resurrection did to defeat sinful decisions we all make. The enemy would love nothing more than have us stay in this web thinking and believing that we are too far gone. How could a holy God ever want to have anything to do with us now? Does that sound familiar? Yeah, I have heard those lies before and kept my distance from God.

There was no way I wanted this child to stay entrapped, but that was their decision. Yes, punishment was given, but a new idea came to me. I cannot remember where I read this account, but I will sum it up. There is a tribe that uses the most unique approach to members that fail. They place this person in the middle of the tribe and speak words that remind them of who they are. They do not cast stones of failure at them, but words of worth. I wanted to follow this example with our child. It also very much reminded me of Jesus’ approach to the woman caught in adultery, ready to be stoned.

So I wrote note after note of scripture for this child. I picked up their favorite after school snack. I bought bath stuff to give a physical reminder of being washed clean. I opened up an age appropriate devotional and it “happened” to land on the topic of forgiveness. That was left open for repetitive eyes to read. I told this precious child that they are a masterpiece and loved. I told them that if they felt whispered lies of accusation in their ear from satan, remind him of the truth in God’s word. I wish you could see the physical relief in this child. I wish you could see their peaceful sleep and feel their constant hugs. Repentance, forgiveness and restoration are very evident in the lightness of this one.

Today if you need reminding that it is not too late to be and live forgiven, I hope you hear me and make an eternal decision. May you live a life of freedom only found in truth. And if you think you cannot possibly be found worthy of Jesus’ death on the cross, I want you read these words that I copied for my daughter. They are straight out of God’s word so they are true and can be trusted.

“He has taken our sins away from us as far as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12

“Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.” Psalm 30:2

“O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8

“God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.” Philippians 4:7

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:4

“For God so loved the whole world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16-18