‘Fessing up means to admit.  It is a confessing of wrongs done, an admission of actions taken, words spoken, etc.  It means letting down, a humble acceptance of a guilty plea, an owning up to truth, admitting wrongs done, or an ‘admission’ of wrongs committed.

But here’s the thing. ‘Admission’ also means being allowed to enter. When we’re granted admission to something, we usually need a ticket right? We need a key, a sign that says we’ve paid what we need to pay or done what we’ve needed to do.  A ticket communicates that we’re granted ‘admission’. We’ve jumped through the required hoops so we can scoot on through the door and be admitted to whatever the event  is.

And here’s what I love about these two words- Admission leads to admission. Admission -the ‘fessing up, often leads to admission-the allowance to enter back in- to one’s own life.

I know when the kids were little, their faces showed it all. If they felt guilty about something, it was almost a relief to just get it over with and confess. We’d deal with whatever the offense and then move on. And that’s what admission does…it helps people to move on…and be granted admission to ‘carry on’ with their lives.

I’m sure we all have our stories of either admitting wrongs done…or not. There are funny stories as well as tragic, sad  scenarios as well as redemptive. One funny story that popped into my mind just a minute ago was when I found my then 3-year-old son, Chase, hiding under the kitchen table with peanut butter smeared all over his face.As he looked up at me with the peanut butter jar still in his lap, peanut butter all over his hands and face, and eyes that expressed ‘guilty’, well, he knew that he was caught. I wish most offenses were as cute and endearing as this one, that’s for sure!  But his guilty plea was his ticket back to not have to hide under the kitchen table. He got cleaned up on the outside after he had freely owned up to the inside. And I made sure that he knew he didn’t have to sneak peanut butter anymore. 🙂

But if he had not ‘admitted’  and said or behaved as if , “I didn’t do it,” well, his admittance back into life might have taken a diversion of having to go through some training steps such as stern looks and time out before being admitted back into life as normal. Because a lack of admitting wrongs done is dishonest and lying builds walls around us and between us.  It breaks down relationships. I didn’t want that for my three  year old. Nope. Confession is good no matter what age. His little eyes knew he had done something wrong. We adults might get better at hiding, but hopefully we still are aware when we’ve done something wrong.  And the consequences we face as adults are often far more than time out and having to clean up our mess. Peanut butter is one thing to clean up. The adult “clean ups” are often way more complicated and involve so many more than just ourselves…and can wreak havoc in every area of our lives.

One more thing about this word ‘admit’. In Latin, “ad” means “to”.  But here’s the cool thing. “Mittere” means to ‘let go, send’.  I smiled when I realized that . Because admitting is a letting go. It is an owning and then a release. Kind of like a football to the gut…it’s a catching and taking it in, and then… a releasing, a letting it go. Ownership, then release.  Sometimes catches to the gut hurt and cause a lot of pain. Yep. Am thinking footballs are nothing compared to owning hurts and failures and all that. It’s not easy to admit things. But it’s a necessary part of the release…not of the football, or even the event, but ourselves. The taking in releases us from the facade and the guilty sentence that is carried until there’s a release. That’s a freedom worth fighting for.

We can’t determine what is done with the one who catches that football that is hurled or passed or kicked to unsuspecting or suspecting receivers. I mean when there is a wrong done, usually part of the fallout is hurting ones in our midst. But it’s often a necessary part of moving forward…for everyone…

So, here’s a thought. Pride builds walls. Humility tears them down. Admitting not only tears down the walls and opens doors in our own lives, it grants admission to be more free in our relationships with others.  Peace like a river can come from the transparency of admission (first to ourselves) and to others. Peace like a river is a good thing.

There are so many spiritual facets of confession, not only in terms of how it impacts us in or relationships, but how it impacts our relationship with God. He says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness.”  We do what we can (confess), He does what we can’t (cleanse).  That cleansing that washes so often precedes that peace like a river. Love that.

Well, there’s my two cents….for now ❤  Just a reminder to some dear ones and myself that freedom is worth the cost…that admission (fessing up)  is worth the admission (ticket back to move freely in our own lives).  There’s a verse in the Psalms that gives such a visual of David holding on to sin… not a fun picture…(includes groaning and bones wasting away, and strength sapped). A lack of admission can also include visuals of a stubborn mule. I don’t know about you, but I picture a stubborn mule pulling back, not moving forward.  Ugh.  Been there.  But confession and forgiveness frees. I love how the end of the psalm speaks of singing and being glad. Yeah, that’s a good, good thing….the freedom to sing and be glad.

Well, I’ve got lots more than “two cents” on this one, but going to end for now. I already started Part 2 on “fessing up”.  But will save that for another day.

Here’s to admission…and release and peace like a river that comes after the football throws to the gut….Am thinking the admission is worth the admission.

Blessings ~

Heather