The Marble in the Shoe

A glass marble rolled from Noah's pocket while he was visiting his cousin. It was the bright green one he had taken from the playroom without asking. When his cousin began looking for it, Noah slipped it inside his shoe.

Walking to the car became uncomfortable. The marble pressed against his heel with every step. He could have moved it back to his pocket, but the ache reminded him that he had still not told the truth.

Before they left, Noah asked Dad to wait. He took off his shoe, picked up the marble, and went back to the door. He told his cousin that he had taken it and hidden it. He said he was sorry without pretending he had forgotten it was there.

His cousin was upset but glad to have the marble back. Dad helped the boys talk about asking before borrowing. Noah knew he would need to rebuild trust the next time they played together.

On the way home, both shoes felt comfortable. Noah understood that returning the marble had not made the wrong disappear from the past. It had stopped the hiding and allowed the truth to be handled.

David tells us about confessing sin to the Lord. We should not protect a wrong by covering it with another wrong. God's mercy gives us reason to be honest. Telling the truth may be difficult, but hiding sin never makes it clean.