“Confess your sins to each other” (James 5:16)
After nearly 56 years of marriage, Reid and I agree about most things. There are only two topics we find ourselves in opposing camps. The first is Army-verses-Navy. Reid served in the Army in the Vietnam War. Something I am very proud of him for. I on the other hand, was a Navy brat. My father made the Navy his career during World War II and beyond. So, I have an anchor etched on my heart. The other place we land on opposite sides is regarding the Civil War. I am a northern girl, born and raised in Ohio. Reid on the other hand, grew up in the south. Richmond, Virginia to be exact. So, every now and then, I enjoy getting a little dig in with the comment, “Remember, Lee surrendered to Grant.”
However, the other day I came across an article about General Robert E. Lee that gave me a bit of a different perspective on the sort of man he was. The article was about what occurred at the battle of Gettysburg, an event in history that happened about the same time as the fourth of July. It became the turning point of the Civil War. General Lee gave orders to charge across a large open field of grain as Union soldiers rained down bullets and cannon fire upon them. It became the greatest disaster of the war. Thousands of men were killed or wounded. General Lee was so devastated by the losses that he offered his resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The President turned it down. But before his offer to resign it was reported that as the Confederate soldiers retreated from the battle, they could hear General Lee saying, “It’s all my fault boys, it’s all my fault.”
After reading this article, I found myself gaining a new respect for General Lee. I believe anyone who admits their mistakes has integrity. It is a moment of greatness when you admit you are wrong, confess, and repent. We grow very little in Christ if we do not admit our faults to him and before others. Sin cannot be repented of if it is not confessed over first. Confession comes when we take responsibility for our actions. Confession opens the door for us to allow God to bring positive change in our lives. Greatness begins with the words, “I was wrong.”
Is there any confession you need to make to God – to others? If so, I encourage you to confess it today. Become a great person. Become a person of integrity. I may still get my dig into Reid about Lee surrendering to Grant, but I’m beginning to see this General Lee in a new light. However, the anchor will stay etched on my heart. Sorry, dear.
Darlene
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