Truth?

It has been said that truth is like surgery, it hurts at the time but often helps to bring on the cure. Lies are like illicit drugs, they temporarily make a person feel better but afterwards have serious side effects.

Lies range from intentionally cruel deceit to seemingly trivial half-truths. One area where many of us may unintentionally encroach on telling lies is when we make exaggerated statements like the following ones.

You never are there for me when I need you.

You are always going out shopping or having coffee somewhere.

Nobody does it that way.

Everybody gets to go except me. (Add your own examples.)

The same general idea applies to the opposite approach, flattery.

Right now someone may be thinking that it surely would be good if a certain couple read this. Hold on a bit. Maybe they are sending you a copy.

On the brighter side, when we are careful about what we say and how we say it, people are much more likely to listen and to appreciate what we declare. This will generate pleasant relationships instead of conflicts.

Let’s say what we mean and mean what we say, but do it calmly and respectfully. That is really tough to do but very necessary.

Henry Wiebe