Love Covers Faults

This kid is killing me!

Wait till you hear what my husband thought was a good idea!

You won’t believe how much my wife spent!

We delight in telling stories. Too often we delight in stories about how our people messed up. From social media to motor pool banter we tease, laugh, embarrass, shame, manipulate, humiliate, and retaliate by telling the world the ugly. We rally people to our side to be entertained by the imperfections of those we love. And it hurts them deeply.

In the Old Testament, after Noah stepped off the boat, he grew some grapes, made wine, and enjoyed his harvest a little too much. In a stupor, he laid down in his tent naked. One son saw his vulnerability and told his brothers about it. The other two backed into the tent and covered Noah’s shame without looking.

Which son would you want to have?

Ham entered the tent and saw him naked, then went back outside and told his brothers. Shem and Japheth put a robe over their shoulders and walked backwards into the tent. Without looking at their father, they placed it over his body.

Genesis 9:22:23 (CEV)

We all make mistakes. We all sin. We all want our faults to be covered, not ridiculed.

This is not to say that serious, recurring, unrepentant sins such as abuse or addictions should be kept a secret. Truth, out in the open, is the way to healing in those cases.

But other things need grace, forgiveness, and compassion. We can be respectful of our loved ones by covering over their failings. Children should be disciplined in private as much as possible. Spouses can be corrected quietly and respectfully—or save it for the “After-Action Report” and discussion at a later time. We should have our loved ones’ backs, treat others the way we want to be treated, and give grace the way Jesus does.

Being trustworthy with our loved ones’ deepest vulnerabilities will build relationships that are open, vulnerable, and intimate. Sabotaging that trust builds walls. Children will cease to share and begin to be deceitful. Everyone will be more disconnected and lonely.

Just as a military doesn’t broadcast its weaknesses, a strong, loving family will cover each other’s shortcomings when possible. Ask the Lord to help you break the habit of proclaiming the faults of your loved ones.

PRAY

Jesus, thank you for forgiving and forgetting my sin. Thank you for restoring me with dignity. Help me to be like you for my people. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): When do we embarrass each other? How can we quit doing that?

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

1 Corinthians 13:4–5

1 Thessalonians 5:14–15