My autistic son had a tough day at school.  His teacher was out all last week as she was on the cruise ship that took an extra long tour in the Gulf without power.  Today was her first day back.  Things started well but seems as if they took a downward slide as morning gave way to afternoon.  He did some things that are not on the acceptable behavior list then let it overwhelm him emotionally.  I usually know how his mind works and my money is on him being embarrassed over the uproar.  The only problem is that feeling led to even more problems keeping his act together.  We talked about it upon my arrival home after running errands.  He was seriously down about the whole thing.  Our conclusion was to just start over tomorrow fresh and with a clean slate.  Today happened but there is always hope for a new beginning the next day.

That is one of the qualities of his autism.  He puts the past behind him to just be a new person tomorrow.  I am sure he will remember today even with its run of bad luck.  Part of my job is to use the failures to direct him to a more successful approach.  But that ability to put the past behind him is really an admirable quality.  Most of us let past issues hang around us until the weight leaves us stuck.  Some deny the reality of bad behavior.  Some will rationalize it so it won't seem so bad.  He just admits to it while looking forward to a new start.  He will probably be a brand new kid when he gets to school.  He will apologize for Monday and just pick up with Tuesday.  He is way ahead of most of us in that area.

We talk about repentance and forgiveness in church without seeing much real progress in our lives.  These are important words because of what they mean not just because we repeat them often.  Songs or hymns about these words do not promise they take root in our spiritual journey.  There are those who know the words yet refuse to move beyond past bad behavior.  It gives them a reason to live with mediocrity.  Some may know the words yet keep reviewing that failure as if they can undo damage.  Then some just give up on the whole repentance and forgiveness thing since they conclude it will not work for them.  God cannot possible find them acceptable after a particular bad behavior or sin.  These are people who always live in guilt who never learn the freedom of grace.  These are those who live in anxiety someone might find out what they are really like.  They may sing about God's grace but it's a foreign language to them.

We should take our sin or failure serious.  Do not fail to understand my point.  I even made sure to talk with my son about his mistakes today.  But never fail to take serious the forgiveness God offers either.  All of us are prodigals but we also have access to a God who forgives and restores.  Let that be the last word of your overcoming sin.

Bro. Trey