A dinner plan was set last night to celebrate the good grades the boys got in their report card. Minutes before we head out the door, I heard a loud thud followed by screaming and crying. When I came to the scene, I saw Jonathan (oldest) crying and profusely saying "I'm sorry" to his brother Jeremy for playing too rough and accidentally caused him to fall, hit his face on the hardwood which resulted to a cut lip. The whole night was spent in the ER, Jeremy got 3 stitches on the lip and the final bill came to $600. The fine dining plan turned out into a Mcdonald's drive-thru dinner.
When we came back home, Jonathan came to me and apologized for ruining the night and kind of waiting for his sentence if he's getting electrocution or hanging. I can see his sincerity and I told him I love him more than this glancing to his brother's stitched-up lip. I realized that last night was the official day that their spanking days are over. I never wanted to crush his spirit so I gave him a big hug. We went back to our Mcburgers, Jeremy cracked up a joke, Jonathan was back to himself and we're back to normal. Last night was one of the best dinner we've ever had.
My wife said she was really proud of me for the values that scene represented. It would have been easy for me to have overreacted! I don't know if the boys will remember that night or not. But I do thank God for His power that enabled me to model for the boys values worth imitating.

"Let your speech always be seasoned with grace, as it were, with salt"
Colosians 4:6