To many Christians, this is pretty much what repentance means. You tell God you're sorry, and assume he'll accept you. He sort of said he was sorry. He wasn't really owning up to it. And yet I have to give his father credit for coming as far as he did.
Many children receive far less.
We don't give much more to God when we confess our sins. If Joe Queenan's father is serious about making amends, it will take more to convince his son than a handshake. C. Don't wait to repent. God disciplines us for sin. David waited and faced the tragic results.