The joy of confession

An article by Carolyn Hagan in Child includes a first-person account by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker:

When I was a little girl, I accidentally broke a fruit jar. Several brothers and a sister were nearby who could have done it. But my father turned to me and asked, “Did you break the jar, Alice?”

Looking into his large, brown eyes, I knew he wanted me to tell the truth. I also knew he might punish me if I did. But the truth inside of me wanted badly to be expressed. “I broke the jar,” I said.

The love in his eyes rewarded and embraced me. Suddenly I felt an inner peace that I still recall with gratitude to this day.

In the same way, we find that confessing our sins to our heavenly Father brings us closer to him.

750 Engaging Illustrations.