Lesson Learned?

Valuable Lesson Learned


Let’s go back a few years to Jr. High. Partying every weekend, smoking, drinking, kissing…all the things I would be mortified by if my 14 year old were the participant. One day, your my little sister ratted me out. She was all of 8 years old and found a cigarette in my room. When asked by my mother whose it was, of course I confessed immediately. Yeah right! I lied! I said it was someone else’s, I said I found it, I said anything that would not find me guilty as charged. Guilty I was and grounded! Grounded! Not because of smoking, but because I LIED! If I had said, “Yep, it’s mine.” I would have gotten off, free as a teenager! What are you going to do if your 14 year old smokes, not much, especially if daddy smokes too (that’s a post for later, back on topic)!

So the lesson, DO NOT LIE! DO NOT DECEIT! DO NOT KEEP SECRETS!

Of course, lying, being deceitful, or the secret your keeping isn't anything like the story I shared.  However, it's not much different either.

Why is it people (sometimes the same people who taught me this lesson) lie, deceit, and try to keep secrets?

I believe one of the main reasons people lie, deceit, or keep secrets is to spare someone's feelings.  I lied to my mom about the cigarette because I didn't want her to be ashamed and thus hurt her.  When Aaron hid his addiction from me, it was to spare my feelings.  When someone tells me my pants don't make my butt look big, it's to spare my feelings (sorry, nothing can hide it, my butt's big).  When I colored my hair and it turned blue-grey, people said it didn't look that bad.  Why? To spare my feelings. 

The Tuth.

It all hurts! The Bible says in Numbers 32:23, “…and you may be sure that your sins will find you out.” You see, the Bible also says, “DO NOT LIE!” It’s one of the 10 commandments (in case you missed that). Why not just say my pants make my butt look big. Why not come clean and say, "I slipped up."  Why not admit you don’t treat all of your family the same (we all have a favorite, it’s OK). Why not tell someone you liked their hair better orange. In the end, their feelings will be hurt anyway. In the end, people are smart and they will know you’re lying, deceitful, and secretive (which hurts much worse than hearing, knowing, and seeing the truth the first time!).

Lesson learned?

Comments

tina fisher said…
Seems like an easy one...but I think it's actually hard. I'm already finding that I have to teach my three year old not to lie.

I hope you like my hair better orange! :)
Holly Neaton said…
I'm loving all the posts you have been doing! I do think it becomes more important...or more noticeable when you have children just how many lies are told in a day. And how you don't want your children to go down that path, so you change what you do as a better example. God bless - Holly
mrs. b. said…
my hubs is honest. *super* honest. like, yea that makes your butt look big, honest. it's great in one sense, because i feel like he would tell me anything and everything. but on the other hand, i'm a words of encouragement gal and i cringe @ his honesty sometimes! haha!
Jolene said…
I LOVE your hair orange! ;)

It is hard.

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