I Tell You the Truth

      I helped Alannah at the craft fair yesterday. She set up her jewelery display and for several hours we talked to people and sold some jewelery and had a good time just being together. We like being together and doing things together. I've been blessed to have a daughter and I have invested in our relationship.
     While we were there we happened to watch a distressing scene that you have probably witnessed before as well. A young mother and daughter came to Alannah's table and the child, who was probably 7 or 8 spyed a bracelet she wanted. It was made of blue crystals and pearls and fit her perfectly. It was only $10. and the little girl really wanted it. The mother told her that they would look around first and that they would come back for it before they left. The child was disappointed she couldn't have it right away, but she was satisfied that they would be returning for it. 
     We watched the mother go from vendor to vendor, purchasing all sorts of items to fill her shopping bag. And when the time came to leave, the child started towards Alannah's table only to have the mother tell her no and they left. It didn't really bother me that Alannah didn't sell a bracelet, because she had sold quite a bit anyway. But what bothered me was the lie the mother told the child. She blantantly lied. How is that daughter suppose to grow up with any relationship with a mother who lies? A mother whose word she can't trust?
     Maybe you're thinking that it was only a 'little white lie', but a lie is a lie and it teaches our children not only to lie but that they can't depend on us. We need to live with integrity, especially before our children so that they grow into adults with the same standards. To know you can depend on someone's word is one of the most important parts of building a relationship. 
     I have had to tell my children "no" from time to time, especially when they wanted something that I just couldn't afford to get them and it didn't hurt them permanently, but not after I had told them "yes".  A lie hurts. A lie can lead to disrespect and broken relationships.  

     In Matt 5:37. Jesus said "Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay..." And the apostle Paul said, "Providing honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men" (2 Cor 9:11). Again, Paul writes to believers and says, "Lie not one to another..." (Col 3:9).

     Years ago "a man’s word was his bond." In those days business deals were sealed with nothing more than a handshake. People trusted one another because they themselves were honest and trustworthy. Many things have changed this. We could blame it on greed, or covetessness but I think it just because of plain old dishonesty that has become the habit rather than the exception.  But it should not be so among Christians, the children of God.

     If you have fallen into the habit of dishonesty, ask the Lord to help you crawl out of it. You see a liar doesn't start with 'big whoppers', a liar starts with those things called 'little white lies' and they keep getting bigger and bigger until one day they find they tell a lie quicker than the truth.

     We need to be people of our word, people of integrity especially as an example to our children. Let me encourage you today to start on the road of truth and let our children know they can count on us and our word is dependable.