With my wife and I having raised three kids, we were very familiar with the blame game. When something got broken or a mess was made, it was some times difficult to deduce who was to blame. The not me or the I don’t know was a common occurrence when something went wrong. Even when it was obvious who was responsible, the kids would look at me with angelic faces making every attempt to shift the blame away from themselves. They really couldn’t help it because even their father has been guilty of shifting blame away from himself.

Years ago I had returned home from work. I was in the restroom when my wife entered our home. I could tell from the tone of her voice that she was not pleased. It’s fortunate that I was in that particular location because my stomach definitely clenched wondering what I could have possibly done to incur her wrath and how I could shift the blame away from myself. She asked, “Did you come through the garage?”. “Yes,” I replied wracking my brain for what I might have missed. “You came through the garage?” Not as sure of myself, I timidly responded, “Yes love of my life.” I was running through every excuse so I would be ready when confronted. The good Lord must have been smiling on me that afternoon. I was not to blame because the hot water heater had rusted out at the bottom and flooded out through the garage. It definitely wasn’t a good thing costing us money but at least I wasn’t to blame for the calamity.

The blame game started way back with Adam and Eve. When confronted by God about eating the forbidden fruit, Adam blamed it on the woman that the Lord had given him regardless of the fact that Adam was standing right beside Eve as she conversed with the serpent. Eve blamed the snake for her transgression. The blame game has continued through history with people constantly refusing to accept the blame for their sins. It is only by confessing that we are sinners and accepting the price He has paid that we can escape the blame for our sins. Even as He hung on the cross, Jesus cried out to His Father asking forgiveness for all who had caused His death.

Luke 23:34

³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”^[a] And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Each Friday I participate in the FiveMinuteFriday.com challenge to write for 5 minutes on a prompt word. Today’s word is blame.