The below is a blog that originally displayed in FRIENDS ONLINE as an exclusive blog.  It is written by:  Derek; MichaelWSmith.com's administrator;  He is the father of a 3 year-old, and husband to his wife, Kate.

 

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So, for a while now I've been leading a very idealistic life as a father. I've got a pretty amazing little girl, a beautiful wife (mother to my little girl).

 

But last night something happened that I didn't think would happen for a few more years. Last night as Kennedy was going to bed she told her mom that she wanted to go to bed in Mommy and Daddy's bed. When her mom resisted Kendy told her that "Daddy said (she) could." Which is INTERESTING, because I didn't tell her any such thing. I kind of looked beyond it and laughed. 

 

Then tonight it happened again only this time apparently "Daddy told (her) that (she) could watch High School Musical 3". This answer was only after her Mommy had told her "no, that it was almost time to go to bed."

 

Again, tonight though I put the two and two together. My little girl had passed yet another milestone. She has the ability to willingly sin. I know, I know - I'm not jumping off a bridge because Kendy is suddenly a "bad kid." But I am shocked to see our human nature exposed at 3 years and 3 months. It's just so interesting to see how something that has certainly never been taught to her has been learned simply by living.

 

Most importantly though I learned a lesson about being a "Father". And truly a perspective of God's love for us as his children. I don't love Kendy any less for her making up a story, if anything I feel the need to spend even more time with her, teaching her right from wrong, and combatting our nature for the rest of my life. God loves us the same way. We screw up (A LOT). In fact I'm probably the KING of screwing up. But that doesn't change how our Father in heaven loves us - all it does is steel his resolve to help us to learn more and do better.

 

For the record, Kendy got a talking to about what she did - she apologized and hugged her Mommy and Daddy, cried a little - but we're one more lesson down, one that I'll probably repeat a few hundred more times in my life.

 

I know nothing in this note is groundbreaking, but it really brings a couple things that some of my peers have been talking about lately - and I have a better grasp on some teaching that I've received over the last couple years from a leader John Sheasby and Smitty. It's amazing that it took Kendy doing something to drive their point home.

 

O.K. now if I can just figure out how to get Kendy to bed on-time... hmmm...... baby steps, baby steps. ;-)