Whatsoever Things are TRUE

Thou desirest truth in the inward parts...

Psalm 51:6

My but what a string of lies that little girl was weaving yesterday.... even leading her brother into her sin as well. I dealt with her lying three times. She expressed her sorrow and "repentance" and turned right around and lied again. 

I have to monitor the toothpaste around here. They can use up a small tube of toothpaste in one week's time. Besides the fact that toothpaste is practically poison, I 'm not into buying a new tube every week. After meals when the kiddos wash up I divey out the paste. They hate brushing their teeth. It will reduce Buster to tears on a good day, on a bad day I have to do it for him, but we've been working on happy brushing attitudes and he wasn't doing too bad lately. 

Yesterday I squeezed a little toothpaste onto both toothbrushes and they looked busy enough in the bathroom then I got distracted and found myself in the kitchen. Two minutes later Missy says, "I brushed my teeth! You want to see?" and she opened her mouth to show off her pearly whites.

I couldn't see anything to make me think they were not brushed, but no real evidence that they had been brushed, either.   I hesitated a half a second and offhandedly asked, "Are you sure you brushed your teeth?"

I was actually shocked to see the  "Don't tell me I've been caught look" come over her eyes.

"You didn't brush your teeth?"

"No."

"So why were you telling me you brushed and then showed off your  dirty teeth?"

(This makes my head spin.... why would someone in their right mind do that? Is there some kind of ugly motive behind acts like this to prove herself smarter than me, or is this childish or is she really, really dumb?)

I went off to find brother because I have been known to miss-judge the "look" and sometimes they will agree with me no matter how I put the question - not so much Missy, but I just wanted to check before I decided on a consequence.

"Buster did Missy brush her teeth?"

"Ummmm, Yes".

"Did she actually put her toothbrush in her mouth or just rinse off the toothbrush?"

"Ummmm.... just rinse it off".

"Did you brush your teeth?"

"Ummmm... Yes!"

"Can I see them?"

The mouth opens wide revealing a mouth full of corn chips... and before I had a chance to say a word he freaks "UH-OH!!!! I ummm...." and he's off running to the bathroom .....

But I caught him and asked , "So you lied about brushing your teeth, too?"

"Ummmm Yes."

"Neither one of you brushed? Together you just washed your toothbrushes and called it good? Who's idea was it?"

"Missy's"

Two very sad children were in time-out together on the bench in the entryway brushing, brushing, brushing their teeth. They lost all the rest of their privileges for the day and they spent a lot of time thinking on the bench. I had them do odd jobs but in between times they sat on the bench. For the next week they will do all their teeth brushing on the bench.

No one lied today.

In fact, Buster called out to me this evening. I not lie TODAY!!!

Thank you, kiddo. I appreciate that. I want to be able to trust you.

Lying lips are an abomination unto the Lord,

but they that deal truly are His delight.

Proverbs 12:22