Gentle Reader,
I can’t say enough good things about the Five Minute Friday writers. They are intelligent, witty, encouraging, compassionate, messy, chocolate-eating, bacon-frying, television-show quoting, ridiculously good-looking people who love Jesus. There are times when technology repulses me, but I will be forever thankful to have met and become part of this group thanks to the interwebs and the twitters.
Kate asks us to: trust.
Go.
I can’t stand it when people lie.
We’ve all done it because we’re all flawed. We’ve all “bent the truth” or omitted a key detail. We’ve all had moments when we give in to either insecurity or arrogance and thus seek to make ourselves look better than we really are. I know that – but knowing that doesn’t make me any more patient or tolerant. (#keepin’itreal)
Big lies.The ones that alter the course of a life. The truly shocking kind that we never forget. The ones that are told out of the desire to protect ourselves, even if we claim that we want to spare someone else. These are the painful fabrications. Words that leave lasting wounds.
Little lies. The things people say that can be easily disproved by the half-dozen witnesses in the room. Phrases of pettiness. Glory-grabbing and scene-stealing.
I hate it all.
Words are serious business. They should be truthful. We should be able to stand by every syllable that comes from our mouths. Or our fingers. Because every lie damages relationships. Sometimes between two people. Sometimes between groups of people. Always between the one telling the lie and God.
Falsehood erects a fence. When the fence is discovered, when the lies are uncovered (and they always are), the damage is irreversible. Yes, forgiveness always, no matter how hard, and rebuilding when true repentance is evident. But it can never be the same. It can never be as it was.
I think of Mary Poppins when she compares promises to pie crusts: Easily made, easily broken. So, too, trust.
Trust is among the most precious things we have in this life. We must be loyal to those who trust us by being truthful at all times. Gentle, of course. Loving and tactful, to be certain. But always, always truthful. Never inflate, never deviate.
The cost is simply not worth the fleeting moment of pleasure or boost to the ego.
Stop.
Great post, Marie…and I think that looking at what I wrote for this week, we’re on the same wavelength.
For whatit’s worth, I’ve tried to look past promises to the intention, and give credit for that. I learned in childhood that I should never trust ANYONE (caps intentional!), and while I’ve seen fit to modify that to some degree…to a large part it remains in effect.
My expectations of human nature are not high. If someone want to make a promise, I appreciate the intention…but if they don’t follow through I don’t really hold it against them. (I’m not that forgiving of myself, specifically because I DO have control of my actions and words.)
Some would think it a kind of sad acceptance, but it’s not – the delight when a person follows through, partially or wholly, is genuine, and untainted by previous or current resentment.
#6 on FMF this week.
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That’s an interesting way to look at it. I’ll have to ponder this.
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Friend, yes. I am not a big fan of lying either. I’ve seen too many people hurt by lies. Love THIS: “Trust is among the most precious things we have in this life. We must be loyal to those who trust us by being truthful at all times. Gentle, of course. Loving and tactful, to be certain. But always, always truthful. Never inflate, never deviate.” Blessed to be your neighbor at FMF this week.
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You know one of the worst lies are the ones you tell yourself. A lot of the times self deception is the ultimate. It causes you to perpetuate the lies. Great post
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This was a powerful post, and gently, but directly, challenging. Thank you for being tender and bold. Listening. 🙂
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