What I Learned from Clifford

So, we caught an episode of Clifford on TV while we were at home.

Short summary: Emily Elizabeth (EE) asks Clifford to take a package to the post office. Clifford lets friends open package, play with toy, and then they break it. Clifford hides it. EE thinks Clifford did what she asks so rewards him. Clifford is guilty, shows her broken toy. EE forgives him.

I never thought I would learn grace from a cartoon and I don’t think I’ve ever paid that much attention to EE before (she’s kind of a side character), but I had to imagine how I would have reacted if my child(ren) had done something similar. Break my trust, try to hide it, finally confess. You have to commend Clifford for feeling safe enough to come forward and confess, even though that wasn’t his first reaction. But I really have to applaud EE for staying calm, explaining why what he did was wrong, and then extending grace to him. I haven’t even had to face this yet, but knowing I will gives me a sinking feeling in my stomach (probably because I know I have a short temper and am not very good at this grace business -Nate is much better at that side of things). I hope that I can create a safe environment for my children to feel comfortable talking to me and provide them opportunities to confess and ask for forgiveness when they need it instead of continuing to lie and hide. When I am tested in this area, I need to remember EE (and remember how God has loved us) and respond with love and grace toward my children.

I have a feeling that I will learn a lot more about my character than I will be teaching my children about theirs. . .