Memory Verse

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9

Dear Grandchildren,

On a day like today, sunny and bright, with flowers here and there, I think of the spring in Poland, where flowers were everywhere. Our orphanage was surrounded by them. We had lots and lots of fragrant lilies of the valley, wild aromatic violets, and lilacs. The air was always permeated with their fresh fragrance.

As beautiful as nature was around us, some of the things done by some of the girls were not always so lovely. I remember one day when our Mamochka told us that someone had taken five “zlotys” (zlaw-tees) out of her purse. She wanted that person to confess it. The girl would not be punished if she’d come and repent of her ugly deed. Days went by and no one confessed about the stolen money. A woman detective even came to ask each one of us some questions, but still no one confessed. Stealing was a very big offense, and any girl who kept on stealing had to leave the orphanage. This particular time, it turned out to be a very sad case.

Some time later in the spring, when everything was blooming and our park looked like a fairy place, some of the older girls who went to school three miles away from the orphanage decided to come home through the park. One girl, named Zoya, was a very good student, but sometimes took things from other girls. She was suspected of taking that money. But she denied this with tears. On that particular day, she walked a little bit ahead of the rest of us. All of a sudden, one girl who walked a little bit behind everybody said, “Look, I just found five zlotys!” Then she began to accuse Zoya, saying that she saw her dropping the money.

None of the rest of us saw Zoya doing this, but since the accuser was very popular with our Mamochka, Mamochka believed her. Her name was Andzia, and she was always told by others that she was the prettiest girl in the orphanage. Mamochka had a son whose name was George, or in Polish “Yoorek,” who from time to time, especially during the summer months, lived with his mother in the orphanage. Yoorek liked Andzia, though he was six years older, but he was a big nuisance too. Between the two, they persuaded Mamochka that it was Zoya who had stolen the money and that Andzia was the one who found it.

Zoya was convicted on Andzia’s false testimony and was asked to leave the orphanage to go live with her aunt for a while. The truth came out long after Zoya and Andzia were gone. Andzia had access to Mamochka’s room, and was sometimes sent there to fetch something for her. It was really Andzia who took the money, but she got away with it for a while.

We sometimes don’t realize that in trying to hide our sins, we often hurt others. If we don’t repent of our sins, then we hurt ourselves far more than we think. To have to live with a guilty conscience is far worse than to be falsely accused, even when it might hurt our reputation for a while. I am always glad to know that Jesus can see what sin is in our hearts. Aren’t you glad also?

Note: A Polish zloty is a coin something like a dollar.

Questions:

1. Did you ever do something wrong and then try to hide it? Do you think God saw you, even if no one else did?

2. Who does sin hurt? Does it hurt just you, or does it hurt other people? What about God?

3. Why should we always confess our sins? (See the memory verse.)