Caught Red Handed

Last night, my three year old and I went to a local bookstore. He looked in the kids section while I grabbed a new copy of "Mere Christianity", Charles Stanley's "When the Enemy Strikes", and the newest version of Walt Disney World with Kids for Marci. At check out time I told him to come on and he did but instead of stopping at the counter with me, he kept walking. I didn't pay much attention because I was filling out a frequent customer card so I can get yet another plastic thingy to hang on my keychain. When I looked up, he walked out of the store and took a seat on the park bench outside. I called for him to come to me but he just sat there and looked the other way. Strange......

When I came out of the store, the next stop was at the quarter rides that all kids love. Will climbed onto a train and sat down. He goofed around for a little while then climbed down. That's when I noticed a piece of wrapped up candy on the seat where he had been sitting. He went to pick it up and I took it from him saying, "You don't know where that's been, let's throw it away." (Of course, I was flashing back to all of those Halloween Horror stories about poisoned candy). That's when he looked at me and said, "But it's mine!" I then asked him, "Where did you get it?" He told me, "In the bookstore." Now I was mad because I didn't pay for it and obviously he had taken it! Then I reasoned in my mind how maybe someone had given it to him......I don't think so. I told him what he had done was wrong and that I was very disappointed with him. He cried.

So, I took him to the store held him up to the counter and told him to tell the worker he was sorry. He said, "No" because he was now embarrassed. I apologized and the lady said not to worry about it. As we walked through the mall I repeatedly told him of my disappointment, anger, and how he had really let me down by stealing. He cried more and said he was sorry. Next, I made him tell my wife what he had done, and as you can imagine, he heard it again, this time from Mommy.

What he did next, pleasantly surprised me. He told us he wanted to go back to the store and apologize. I told him he had his chance and blew it, because by this time I was mad. Then Marci suggested taking him. So, I did, he said sorry, and that's that. However, I reminded him of my disappointment two more times last night. I hope it has sank in and I prayed that God would give me wisdom to do the right thing. I'm still learning this Daddy Stuff and have a long way to go but I have Him leading me. Thanks God!