Titus

Titus lied to my wife the other day.

He’s six. He’s going through that stage where he thinks he can get away with whatever it is that he did by lying about it. He doesn’t realize that his lies are obvious.

And so he tried it the other day. He was supposed to brush his teeth before bed. Heather asked him if he had done that simple task. He said yes. However, his toothbrush was dry and he still had food in his mouth.

He lied.

After his punishment, he and I had a good talk about honesty. I think I kept it down on his level… mainly.

We discussed lying and telling the truth. We talked about honesty. We mentioned that Jesus is, after all, the truth. And we talked about how to live lives that reflected God’s ways.

Titus is only six, but he’s all boy. By this point in the conversation, he was feeling pretty contrite. His eyes were swimming with tears, but he wasn’t crying. Not yet. I guess it’s some pre-programmed macho instinct us guys have wired into us. We just have to be tough. Tears aren’t tough.

Titus’ eyes are brimming with moisture, but there’s no drippage yet, so he’s not crying. He looked at me and said, “But God’s ways are hard!”

And at that point, my macho instinct kicked in. Titus and I both had wet eyes. But we weren’t crying.

Because he’s right. God’s ways are hard. It’s not easy to be a man of honesty and integrity. It’s not easy to live a pure life. It’s not easy to serve others when I want to serve myself. It’s hard. In fact, it’s downright difficult. God’s ways are hard!

What started out as a teaching opportunity for a father with his son became a teaching moment for the father with the Father. God has been working on that thought in my head for the past few days. It’s been ruminating and my mind hasn’t been able to let it go.

God’s ways are hard!

And yet he has called me to his ways regardless.

Two thoughts have been predominant in this process this week, so far. One, I find myself taking the easy way all too often, because God’s ways are hard. And two, no one ever said that I had to do God’s ways alone. How wonderful that we have a Helper.

So, Titus and I have been thinking of ways that I can be a helper in his life, along with the Helper. And Titus hasn’t lied for the past few days, either.

What about you? What do you find especially hard about God’s ways? And what encourages you to keep on? How does the Helper assist you? I’d like to know…

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