I had an awesome mama moment with my son when he was a toddler.

He dropped an egg and, out of fear, he hid it.

He did admit he dropped an egg.

I am glad he told me.

I gathered towels and went to go help clean up the mess. When I couldn’t find a mess, I asked him about it.

He stammered and lied.

I found where he hid the egg. The shell had barely cracked and the membrane was still intact. There was no mess.

He stared at me, wide-eyed in fear, as I held the cracked egg in my hand.

I told him to sit on the sofa for a minute.

He cried.

I threw the egg out.

I pulled out our Child Training Bible and read aloud the verses on lying and we discussed them and prayed, holding hands. I hugged him and told him how much I love him.

I told him I’m not mad and mistakes happen. I thanked him for telling me he broke an egg, and that I will always help him clean up his mistakes.

He is so much more than a broken eggshell.

Leading him in prayer over the sin of lying was so much easier than yelling, shaming, isolating him in a timeout over a hidden broken egg.

I could have cracked his shell, smeared his soul, and spilled his heart out all over the floor.

I did that too often with my firstborn. We’re still rebuilding.

Too often, we as parents are the reason our children lie. They’re afraid of consequences. They don’t feel safe enough to tell the truth.

Do we as adults feel safe enough for truth?

Don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. Ephesians 6:4

Forgiveness is good.

How many times do I make a mistake and then hide it, pretend it didn’t happen, or even lie about it (even if I only deceive myself)?

Do you have any mistakes you need help cleaning up?

Jesus would love to help.