“Hey, Mom! The youth group is having a shut in at the YMCA next weekend. Is it ok if I sign up?” Micah asks. “Sean and Alex have already signed up!”

“That sounds fun, honey. Who else is going?” Mom asks.

“Matt and James both said they were going to have their moms sign the slip before Sunday,” Micah replies.

“That’s it?” Mom asks. 

Micah’s best friend, Charlie, stayed over last weekend and the boys got grounded from hanging out with each other for two weeks! Mom told them to get to sleep and woke up three hours later to the sound of video games playing loudly in Micah’s room. 

“That’s all I know of,” Micah says. “Charlie’s not going, as far as I know. I haven’t spoken to him since he went home before church last Sunday.”

“I really like Charlie, honey, you know that. But you guys weren’t honest with me when I found you playing video games at 2:00 AM. You said you couldn’t sleep and just woke up to play some video games to get tired again. The counter on the screen showed that you had been playing for five hours! That means you never went to bed when I told you to and then you lied to me about it when I caught you,” Mom reminded him.

“Yeah, I guess the television was turned up too loud, sorry about that Mom. It won’t happen again,” Micah promises.

“It’s not that the T.V. was too loud, Micah. The issue was that you disobeyed and then lied to me about it. Do you see how those two things were wrong?” Mom asks, concerned. 

“Absolutely, Mom-that’s what I mean. I’m really sorry I disobeyed and lied to you,” Micah says, looking sincere. “I need to knock out my Calculus homework before dinner. Thanks, Mom.” 

On Wednesday morning, Micah finds a signed permission slip on the fridge, being held by a magnet he made when he was only five years old. Micah stares at the magnet and the “Prov. 14:5” painted on the face. He thinks back to Mrs. Kim’s preschool. That was the place he really fell in love with Jesus. That preschool was so full of love, grace, and honesty. The lesson they were taught that day was about honesty. Proverbs 14:5 says, An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. “I need to talk to Mom,” Micah confesses to his five year-old self.

Mom enters the kitchen to the smell of bacon, eggs, and coffee. “Is it my birthday?” Mom asks, surprised. 

Micah sets a plate down on the table with a cup of coffee just the way his mom likes it. “We should probably have a talk,” Micah suggests. “I haven’t exactly been honest with you about the lock-in.”

“What are you talking about, Micah? What weren’t you honest about? I called Pastor Ryan and he confirmed everything you told me.” Mom’s face filled with concern again.

“When I was grabbing a permission slip at youth group, I saw Charlie grabbing one too. I also heard him tell that girl Macie he has a crush on, that he was definitely going. So what I told you before wasn’t exactly honest.” Micah confesses.

“Go on, please.” Mom says.

“I didn’t think it was technically a lie because he just picked up a permission slip, he wasn’t turning in a signed permission slip. Anything could happen between now and then, so I couldn’t really say for 100% sure that he is going…” Micah trailed off.

“I liked it better when you were feeding me breakfast and being honest.” Mom admits. “Thank you for telling me that Charlie is going to the lock-in. I think it’s safe to assume that he will be there. I also think it’s safe to say that you won’t be going.”

“I kind of figured you’d say that,” Micah says.

“Grab a plate of bacon and eggs, then come sit with me.” Mom says. “I want to talk more about the importance of being honest while I slowly savor this wonderful cup of coffee.”

Weekly Bible Verse: An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. -‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭5‬ NIV

Note to Nibble: Be honest in everything you do so that you can grow righteousness.