It was Halloween. I was middle school age. I was awkward in that special sense of being afraid to be embarrassed. I thought I was too old to get dressed up with childhood abandon, and too sensitive to do any animated actions that would make me the focal point of attention. I was also at the age that was uncomfortable acknowledging that I had a girlfriend to my mother.
But, I did have a girlfriend, and I had made arrangements to go trick-or-treating with her. I felt self-conscious about telling my mom, so I told her I was going trick-or-treating with a new friend, Jack, who lived in our neighborhood.
My girlfriend lived on the other side of town and my time was short, so I ran to her house. We visited several houses collecting candy. We didn’t do anything special, just visited her neighborhood together. I don’t even remember having a costume, or what kind of costume she wore. It was simply good doing the candy gathering together. After a sufficient time, I ran back home.
When I got there, sweaty and out of breath, my mom asked me where I had been. I looked at her questioningly and she replied, “While you were gone, Jack came by and asked where you were.” I was found out. I had lied. Now, insecure or not, I had to tell my mom about my girlfriend.
I’m not sure that if I had told the truth to start with, that my mom would have prevented me going. I think her only objection would have been that it was a long way from our neighborhood. The problem, the reason I was in trouble, was that I had lied about what I was doing. Knowing my mom, I think she was probably chuckling on the inside thinking that I had reached that age in life where I had a girlfriend and was sensitive about it, but even so, I wanted to be with her.
My sister and I were always afraid to do anything wrong. It wasn’t because we might receive harsh punishment, but rather because mom always seemed to know what we had done. There were times when she dreamed exactly what we had participated in and would tell us her dream the next morning. It was spooky and disconcert- ing.
Mom’s not the only one though. Hebrews 4:13 (NLT) says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” My mom was scary in how she could discern what we were up to, but to think that God knows it all, sees it all, and that we are accountable to Him for what we have done is terrifying.
Some of us try to shed the truth of that with a shrug of our shoulders, but Jesus said, “For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.” (Mark 4:22 NLT).
It would have been much better for me if I had let my mom know what I was planning than trying to hide it. We are offered forgiveness for those things we try to hide and of which we are ashamed. 1 John 1:9 (ESV) says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I suggest that you take Him up on it – get it taken care of – confess those hidden things to Him now. It is far better to do so, than to have them revealed to all in the end.
– Just a Thought
