Today I was sitting at home doing some Saturday chores when there came a knock on my door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I went to the door not knowing what to expect. I opened the door, and a man and boy from my ward stood on my doorstep. I greeted them and asked how I could help, and the answer startled me.
They were there to tell me that the boy and his cousin had damaged our rock wall a few days earlier. My husband had come home from work that day to find pieces of the rock wall scattered and broken down the sidewalk. He had cleaned up the mess in frustration and talked to the neighbors, but still didn’t know who could have done it. Our minds never went anywhere near suspecting this boy.
We hear stories similar to this in church all the time: the child picks a flower or steals something from the store and the good parents take the child over to tell the truth and try to make it right. It’s a good learning experience in all its forms. I’ve just never been the lady standing in front of the sheepish boy and his parents.
But what I love about this experience is what I think we all learned. I could tell that this boy knew what he did was wrong, that his parents had taught him well, and that he didn’t feel right about his previous choice.
I am grateful to his parents for teaching him, bringing him over, and helping him understand the consequences of his actions.
And I’m strangely grateful to have been on my end of the story. I do feel better knowing who did it and that I received an apology. But more than that, I think I have a better understanding of repentance because of the situation. I also think I have a better understanding of forgiveness (it’s hard not to forgive someone who so bravely admits when he’s wrong—especially when he’s so cute).
I think today’s lesson will stick with all of us for a good long while.
Related Blogs:
Making the Most of the Sacrament
Articles of Faith Series: The Second Article
Articles of Faith Series: The Fourth Article