October 15, 2020
Honesty. This topic has been on my mind lately. What pushes us over the edge to be dishonest? When do we choose to be dishonest? Why would we make such a destructive choice? Maybe media has made me think more about this. The news and social media are filled with he is telling lies…she didn’t tell the whole truth…he is deceiving us…and so on. The truth.
Hopefully, he will forgive me, but I must share a story from my son’s childhood. When Nathan was about 2 ½ years old, I will never forget this interesting interaction that occurred. Nathan was on the couch and I joined him to read stories or look at a book. After I sat down, I noticed he smelled like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. “Nathan, did you eat a peanut butter cup?” His eyes turned toward me and he hesitated for a moment and then said, “I asked if I could eat one.” Since we were the only two people in the house, I inquired who he asked. Another hesitation and then his answer. ”Jesus said I could eat one.” I hope I didn’t laugh out loud but I’m sure I must have at least smirked. It reminded me of the line from the Grinch, “He thought up a lie and he thought it up quick.” 2 ½ years old. How? Why? What makes us believe even from a very young age that lying will get us out of trouble instead of knowing it will get us into trouble? Even though this story still makes me laugh, I know it shouldn’t because lying is never the right choice, even when it involves a small child and chocolate.
It seems we don’t tell the truth when we think it will benefit us. How long does it benefit us? When the truth is revealed, whatever the benefit might have been, is replaced with mistrust. How much simpler would our lives be if we could trust the words of others?
Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. Ephesians 4:25 NLT