I was lying on my bed, listening for the familiar sounds that come before someone falls asleep. I could hear my parents talking, and I was wishing that they would go to sleep already.

My room, located off the kitchen and approximately six feet from my parents' bedroom, was called a sun room. It had windows on the left side of the bed and toward the back.

It sounded like my parents were finally asleep. My father was snoring up a storm and my mother was making those high pitched nasal noises. Here's my chance, I thought. I got up from my bed and started rummaging through my duffel bag, searching for my cigarettes and matches. I lit the cigarette and went back to bed.

"Rosemary, is it lightning outside?" my mother's voice resounded.

Shocked, I quickly shoved the cigarette into the planter that was next to my bed.

"Yes, it is, mom. Just go back to sleep," I answered.

I could feel my heart beating a little faster, and I waited to see if my mother would get up and pay me a visit. She never did. She didn't even mention the flash of light the next morning. The only time the subject of seeing a flash of light came up was when my mother decided to re-pot the plant. It seemed to her that the plant, although it got enough sunlight and water, was starting to wilt, so she decided to give it brand new soil. As she started to dig it up, she found crushed out cigarette butts in the soil. The cat was out of the bag!

I don't remember what I said to defend myself, but what I do remember is that I couldn't hang out with my friends for a while as a punishment for lying. Once that punishment was served, I was able to go out with my friends again. My parents had forgiven me.

Colossians 2:13-14 – When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (NASB)

We have all done things in our past that we are sorry for today. Isn't it wonderful to know that when we confess our sins to God, we have been forgiven — that we are able to start anew!

Prayer: Father God, You forgave and delivered us from our sins by sacrificing Your Son, Jesus, to die on a cross. Thank You! Amen.

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About the author:

Rosemary Hagedorn <rosyhagedorn@gmail.com>
Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
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