I am reminded of a story that author Walter Wangerin tells about an experience he had some years ago with his son. When Matthew was seven years old and in the second grade, he became fascinated with comic books--so much so, that one day he stole some from the library. When Walter found the comic books in Matthew's room, he confronted him, corrected him, disciplined him, and took him back to the library to return the books. Matthew received a stern lecture regarding stealing from the librarian and also from his dad.

The following summer, however, it happened again. Matthew stole some comic books from a resort gift shop. Again Walter corrected him and told him how wrong it was to steal. A year later, Matthew once again stole comic books from a drug store. Walter decided he had to do something to get his son's attention and to underscore the seriousness of stealing.

So he took Matthew into his study and said, "Matthew, I have never spanked you before, and I don't want to now, but somehow I've got to get through to you and help you see how wrong it is to steal." So Walter bent Matthew over and spanked him five times with his bare hand. Matthew's eyes moistened with tears, and he sat there looking at the floor.

His father said, "Matthew, I'm going to leave you alone for a little while. You sit here, and I'll be back in a few minutes."

Walter Wangerin stepped out of the study. And he reports to us that he just couldn't help himself. He, himself, broke down and cried like a baby. He, the father, cried and cried. Then he washed his face and went back into the study to talk to his little son. From that moment, Matthew never stole again.

Years later, as Matthew and his mother were driving home from shopping, they talked about some memories of his childhood. They remembered the incident with the comic books. Matthew said, "Mom, after that, I never stole anything again from anybody, and I never will."

His mother asked, "Was it because your dad spanked you that day?"

"Oh no," Matthew explained, "It was because I heard him crying!"

Many of us can remember as children the pain we felt when we saw one of our parents cry. Even worse was the knowledge that we were responsible for those tears.

Grace is never cheap.

Ron Newhouse