PARDON ME
/SOMETIMES we get what we don't deserve. Sometimes we don't get what we deserve. We all do. Me, you, Hunter Biden, Donald Trump, all of us in varying degrees and means. I have a few thoughts on "pardons".
Let's start here. I'm a son and I'm a father. I'm using those credentials to have an opinion. Although I've never been president of anything, much less the U.S. of A., that hasn't stopped me from opinionating.
Should Joe Biden as president have pardoned a guy named Hunter Biden? No. (in my humble opinion). Should the president even have the power of pardons. Again, IMHO, no. If our political leaders were of sound character, humility and in possession of a strong, solid sense of accountability, then maybe: Yes. But...
Should Joe Biden as father to Hunter have offered a pardon. Yes. And I really believe that is what is behind this. As the father of two sons I would do anything and everything I could for them. Let's take an empathetic look. Joe had three children with his first wife--a girl and two boys. Tragically, a car accident took the life of his wife and daughter. Though badly injured the boys survived. Joe was not in the car. As a young adult, Beau died from brain cancer. Of the three, only Hunter is living today. Does the fact that Joe has lived with years of heartache give him a license to go overboard for the remaining son? For whatever reasons, Hunter has made a of mess of his life. Should he get what he deserves? Of course.
As a son growing up in the home of a grace-full father I received multiple pardons. Not the presidential ones of course, but the even better ones--the ones given from the unconditional love of a father. Were there consequences for my actions? Indeed there were. The father-pardon didn't remove the punishment. Like that time I was part of an organized crime ring in seventh grade. A plan had been hatched to steal pop from the Pepsi delivery truck at the grocery store during lunch break at school. Even though I was only an accessory to the crime I got swats at school, swats at home, and was forced to surrender my allowance for several weeks to pay back the Pepsi corporation for the stolen soda pop.
Maybe Joe could have said to Hunter, "Son, as your father I believe in you and I forgive you. But I will not as president use the power of a pardon as preferential treatment to serve my own good; even though my predecessor/successor has and will, time and time again."
Hunter should have told his dad upon hearing of his consideration of giving a presidential pardon, "Dad you've done enough for me. Your forgiveness is sufficient. Your belief in finding a seed of goodness still within me is enough. Don't bring the fire of criticism down on yourself for me. As my dad you're already giving me what I don't deserve."
It's that season again. The one where we celebrate the ultimate giver of pardons, where we remember the one who got what He didn't deserve so that we might have what we don't deserve.
“And the WORD became flesh and lived among us.”