"What would you do...?"

So, as expected, it wasn't long before we had a little "ish-ah" with Joshua-and-the-unsupervised-Facebooking.

Joshua has a friend from school that contacted him through Facebook. We grew up knowing this young man. He and Joshua were friends from Kindergarten until graduation, and he is...troubled. And even tho the circumstances he was born into were not his fault, we still had to be very careful.

Because Joshua is innocent.

We tried to talk to Joshua about limiting contact. Not totally cutting things off with the friend, but just about being careful...about not giving out any personal information. This boy, his friend, was abandoned as a child. He's dealt with rejection and abuse. He is sweet and childlike. He has also been violent. We just couldn't take any chances.

Joshua didn't understand. "WHY won't you let me be friends with him?"  Argh!!!. It's so hard to know what to do, and talking logic to Joshua does not work...he doesn't think like that. Innocent. Pure in heart. What is it the Bible says about that? "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matt 5:8)

Well, that's Joshua.

He said, "I think I can be a witness to him...because his family abandoned him and he doesn't have anyone else. I might be his only friend. I might be his only hope."

It finally got to be too much...the contact between Joshua and his friend. It was just over the phone and Facebook, but it had to end. So, we told him we couldn't allow him to talk to his friend anymore, and we were very sad about it, but that was our decision. And we prayed about it, and we prayed for his friend.

One night, Clark and I were out with friends and someone sent me a text saying, "aww...that is so sweet what Joshua put on Facebook!" And then I started getting several texts about it...about how sweet it was and how Joshua must sure love his Dad.

Ruh-roh, Raggy.

When I got home, I asked Jim about it. He has a flair for the dramatic at times and goes, "oh...YOU missed it!"

Joshua cannot hide the truth. He tries, blesshisheart, but he just can't. The boy loves to talk...and, given enough time, will tell you everything...and rat himself out. So, it was just the two of them at home, and apparently Joshua started talking about his friend (this was after he was told not to have contact with him)...and he and Jim had words over it that ended with Joshua stomping to his room, muttering under his breath the whole way. Jim said he gave Joshua some time to cool down, but then went in to talk to him. He found Joshua, iPOD in hand, carefully and seriously typing out a Facebook status, letter by letter...

(tick...tick...tick...)

Jim asked to see what Joshua was writing and this is what he had typed:

"what would you do if your parents wouldn't let you witness to someone who needs Jesus?"

EEEK!!!

Well, Jim FLIPPED. OUT. (dramatic, I told you). He told Joshua in no uncertain terms that if he posted that status, he would take his phone and iPOD away, and he would never, ever, EVER see Facebook again.

Which led to more words...and more time to think...

And an hour later, Joshua came in to apologize, and to show Jim the new status he had written:

"My Dad and I are great friends. I understand that he is a furious protector. I know that we don't always get along, but I know he does love me."

Ahhh. Forgiveness and reconciliation are always the goals after discipline...

"My son, obey your father's commands, and do not neglect the teaching of your mother; keep their words always in your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk, their counsel will lead you; when you sleep, they will watch over and protect you; and when you wake up, they will advise you. For their command is a lamp, and their instruction a light; and their corrective discipline is the way to life..." Proverbs 6:20-23