Stephen reads what is perceived to have been his motive:

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     I say, "I wanted to make sure all you children understood that Jesus died for our sins …and by understanding His love and forgiveness, we can better conceptualize the forgiveness we are to extend to one another.   

     You ask, "What is sin?"         

     I explain, "Sin is going against God, and going against His provision for us."   

     I know that I'm not speaking entirely at your level, so that's when I decide that I will go through the Ten Commandments with all of you children …covering only one commandment each day.   The first three days are spent describing who God is ---recognizing, respecting, and responding.   You all seem to understand the fourth commandment quite well.   The fifth day I discuss with you what some parents errantly stress as even more important than the first three:  Honor Your Parents.    I also mention that it works best if Dad and Mom also honor each other.  For the sixth day, the question of war comes up, but I try not to get political.   That evening I have to work overtime at work …and it feels like a war.  I am so worn out, but you all are so enthusiastic,  so I begin reading, not knowing what trouble I'm about to get into …until the words leave my lips, "Do Not Commit Adultery".    

     I am so tired, I don't really feel like doing this.  Probably wouldn't be any better though, even if I wasn't tired.  Maybe it's better that I am tired …and that I don't really think before I speak.   

     For some strange reason, I take an environmentalist point of view, "Do not come at an adult tree.  Remember when we planted that baby apple tree in our front yard, well, now it's an adult tree …and it has apples."    

     Leah asks, "Why is that  a sin?"    

     I explain, "Well, God created for us, every good fruit.  And we shouldn't just chop it down."   

     Then you, Josiah, add, "Like George Washington did with the cherry tree?"    

     I quickly reply, "Something like that …we just need to save our trees.  And it is fruitless to chop them down.  Believe me, if we don't come at adult trees, we save a lot."    

     I end by promising to plant more baby apple trees with all of you ...some other day."  

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     Before Dad reads too much, Josiah suggests, "I don't know about you, but I'm hungry.   How about we go down to the barn and get the others?