Whose Punishment Is It?

My Mom bought a piano when we lived in the Arroyo Grande house.  She liked to play and also have us kids learn to play. It's a beautiful AcroSonic upright piano.  Now I have to tell you that my folks always took very good care of the things they purchased and still have many things that were bought years ago and they are in pristine condition.  

One day as I sat at the piano I started picking at the decal that said AcroSonic just above middle C.  Not even thinking I continue to fiddle with it until a large part of it was gone.  Suddenly I woke up and realized that I was going to be in big trouble.

I also need to tell you that Dad had the eyes of an Eagle and super sonar sensitivity to the things he owned.  Almost as soon as he walked in the door from work he said, "Who scratched the S off the piano!" Like most young kids around the age of 10 I didn't want to experience the garage. So I blamed it on the first person that came to mind because I thought he would be too young to spank!  My baby brother Jim!

I have an older brother Tom and two younger brothers, Steve and Jim. My two other brothers knew they didn't do it and I didn't often lie to my Dad so they assumed I was telling the truth.  Jim protested in the strongest way a three year old could but it was to no avail.  

Instead of going into the garage my Dad chose to spank Jim right there in front of us.  Poor Jimmy!  My initial triumph at fooling Dad began to sour my stomach.  It became all knotted and I started feeling ill.  Jim was then sent to his room. I went to mine saying I wasn't feeling well.

I laid on my bed and began to cry. I prayed.  "God, I know what I did was wrong.  I know I need to go tell Dad the truth.  You need to make me strong enough because I know I am going to get an even worse spanking for making Jimmy suffer for what I did!"  After I dried my tears I gathered up all the braveness I could muster....which wasn't much but enough.... and went into see Dad.

"Dad, Jimmy didn't do that to the piano, I did." I said softly with down cast eyes.  "I'm ready to take my punishment."

I waited.  Dad looked at me and saw how I was suffering, and believe me, I was suffering!  It would have been better to take the initial spanking and get it over with.  Then he surprised me. "It seems you have suffered enough.  However, you need to go make things right with Jimmy."

I threw myself into Dad's arms and said, "I'm so sorry Dad.  I promise never to do this again!"  He gave me a warm hug and then I went to face my little brother.  Being so little he was ready and willing to forgive me and gave me a warm hug too.  

Repentance is difficult, but the forgiveness I received was very freeing.  My soul, instead of being burdened and heavy, was now free to rejoice.  I never blamed anyone for something I did again.

I am reminded how Jesus took my punishment for me.  I read Isaiah 53 with different eyes now.  Christ took on all the sins of the world and died of a broken heart.  I am one who helped break it.  However, Christ was victorious over sin and made it possible for me to have forgiveness and participate in the freedom and joy of the heavenly kingdom.

I walked into the living room of my folks home in Santa Maria today.  There against the wall is the AcroSonic piano.  The S is still gone along with parts of other letters.  It is a reminder of what Dad taught me.  I'm looking forward to seeing him again on the resurrection day and thanking him for being such a good Dad!

Naughty Little Rider

It took a lot but after much begging Dad bought a couple of horses.  I had wanted horses since I could remember and it was great being able to have Lady, a quarter horse, and Jiggers, the pony.  My brothers and I spent many hours riding, going to neighborhood shows, and being cowboys. It was fun and I thought I was a good rider.

One Sabbath on the way back from church I saw at the football field across from our house a group of people who were taking turns riding a Pinto Pony.  I had always wanted to ride a Pinto. I thought they were pretty. I asked Mom if I could go over after lunch and ride the horse.  She said no.  Of course I couldn’t accept no for an answer.

“Why! I asked a bit upset.

“The Bible tells us in the fourth commandment that we are to let our animals rest along with us on the Sabbath.  You will have to wait until another day.” She explained.

Of course, in my mind, this commandment didn’t apply to rides at the football field and I made the decision that I was going to ride that horse! After lunch, I put on my jeans and boots and slipped out the back door. I went down the side road, crossed over the main road, and headed to the football field.

I stood in line and watched with pleasure as the horse was led up and down on the field with each rider.  Finally, my turn came.  A lady boosted me up and I settled into the saddle.  It didn’t feel quite right and my feet were not securely in the stirrups.  I ignored the ill fitting saddle. I could ride in it because I was a good rider! I would just hang on to the saddle horn if I felt like falling.

It was great! The lady leading the horse saw that I could ride and let me take the reins.  She made me walk the horse though.  I asked her if we could trot.  She hesitated, asked me if I knew what I was doing, and of course, I said, “I’m a good rider because I ride my own horse every day.

“Well, okay.  But be careful!” She allowed.

I kicked the sides of the Pinto and we were off.  I hung on but began to lose my grip on the horn.  I couldn’t hold the reins and the horn at the same time and my feet came free of the stirrups.  This horse was also a different size horse and I wasn’t used to the way he trotted plus I couldn’t anticipate his moves. I began to slip from the saddle. As the ground came up to meet my face I remember thinking that I was in BIG trouble.  Then everything went black.

The next thing I saw was Dad looking at me and saying, “Susie, can you hear me? Do you hurt anywhere?”

Of course I hurt, not just on the outside but in my heart as well.  I tried to get up and when I leaned on my arm a sharp pain shot through it. Dad bent down, picked me up, and carried me all the way home.  I cried from the pain and hurt. He examined my arm for any break and realized it was just a bad sprain.

Susie Nazario
 

“I’m sorry for disobeying Mom.  Are you going to punish me?” I asked

“No. You have been punished enough for one day.  You do need to tell Mom you’re sorry though.” He said while carefully putting a sling on my sprained arm. 

After telling Mom I was sorry for disobeying (and I really was!) I fell asleep on Dad’s lap.  I’m sure I slept a lot that night as I woke up in the morning in my own bed.  That day I learned it doesn’t really pay to disobey. There is another commandment I learned to respect and that is to “Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother”. They know what is best.  If I had obeyed, I would not have had to live with a sprained arm for several weeks which took me out of the riding circuit for awhile.