Many years ago in high school, my dad was driving us home from a game. My window was down so I could enjoy the wind rushing through.

Off to the right, a car full of boys kept pace with my dad's car. The boys inside flipped us off.

I was upset and wanted revenge......but had to find a way that my Dad wouldn't see me. I hung on to the upper frame of the door and returned the "favor", which only inticed them to continue sharing the "universal sign".

By now, my Dad had seen them. He was very upset. Still I continued to hold my middle finger up...out of my Dad's sight.

And the boys continued to give us the "bird".

Well, my dad followed this car full of boys to their final destination. He got out of the car and demanded to speak to their father.

Soon everyone was standing in a circle as my Dad, his face now red, argued with a raised voice with their father. "My daughter would never do anything like that!"

Finally "Just ask her" was insisted.

My Daddy turned to me, looking deep within my eyes and asked me "Did you flip these boys off?"

My dad had been in fights before, so I knew that he would possibly be in another one, depending on my answer.

"Yes, I did."

"What?" He barely whispered.

See, lying always seemed to help me out of spot...at least I thought....but was I going to let my Daddy suffer at my expense? So I forced the words out, "Yes, I did."

My Daddy's face went white, as he took a deep swallow and apologized.

On the way home, he told me how proud he was of me for telling the truth. And from that moment on I have rememberd that...I am so blessed to have learned that lesson.

In the same way...our Creator is leading us Home. There will be those temptations to the side that will pull us away...distract us from fellowshipping with our Father. Those temptations will lure us into behaving in a way that God never intended....lead us away from who we really are. Our focus is turned to the distraction.....dealing with it ourselves...when our Father is right there with us.

God will hold us accountable....He wants to defend us, but it is only when we speak the TRUTH that He can really help us. It is when we know the TRUTH and speak it with our Father that we will grow and mature.

As I am on my way Home with my Father...enjoying the mighty rushing Wind...I am so thankful for that life lesson my Daddy taught me many years ago...