There was a loud crash, and the sound of falling glass. Poor Freddie! He had been bouncing his new tennis ball against the wall of his home, and all at once, instead of hitting the wall, it went right through the back window.
Sitting down on a big stone, Freddie thought: “Aunt Mary is busy upstairs; and besides, she is so deaf I’m sure she couldn’t have heard the crash. Mother is away and I don’t think anybody saw what happened. If I am asked who did it, I won’t tell a lie. But if no one asks me, there is no need for me to say anything about it.”
“Daddy will be angry, I know, and perhaps I might have to pay for the new glass with my own money. I think I shall just act as though I don’t know anything about it.”
But then there came into Freddie’s mind that verse which says, “Thou God seest me.” He could almost hear his Sunday School teacher telling the boys that God hates lies whether we tell them or just act them. He also remembered him saying that when tempted to act or tell a lie, turn to the Lord Jesus and ask Him for courage and strength to tell the truth.
Soon after, Freddie’s father appeared and he ran down the lane to meet him. As he ran, he asked the Lord for courage to confess what had happened.
“You’re quite out of breath, Freddie,” said his father.
“Yes, Daddy, I’m very sorry, but I was hitting my new tennis ball against the wall and it went right through the window.”
“I’m glad you have come and told me, my boy,” said his father. I would rather have every window in the house broken than that my Freddie should tell a lie, or act a lie to save himself from blame.”
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
ML-11/13/1977