May 19th, 2021

​There’s this woman in Denmark that I follow on Instagram who will randomly do this thing called “Panic Lies” where she asks her followers to send in stories of when they lied about something when there was no reason to. Like, when someone says your name wrong and rather than correcting them you just go with it. Or when you mishear what someone asked you and then all of a sudden you realize that you actually never did go to France and have absolutely no recommendations for them but you just can’t back out so you keep making up more and more things. One particularly hilarious story that I often think on and laugh is about a woman who was doing laundry in a laundromat. She went to put clothes in a dryer but there were already clothes there. A man asked her if the clothes were hers and rather than saying no, she said yes and proceeded to take them out and fold all of them while chatting with the man. At the end of the conversation, he told her that the clothes were his and thanked her for folding them for him. She never returned to that laundromat 🤣 

Isn’t it crazy how we can so easily make things harder on ourselves simply because we don’t want to admit we were wrong? Or look stupid? When really, our attempts to save ourselves just dig ourselves into a deeper hole. 

One of my favorite verses or phrases in the Bible is when Jesus says “the truth shall set you free" (Jn. 8:32). It’s a verse that is simple and life-changing and yet, hard to apply. If the truth is what brings freedom, then why do I find myself running from the truth whenever possible? In the big things maybe not so much because I can more easily see the error in it, but in the small things? All the time! Like, I can still make it to class or work on time even if I stop to get coffee.... (untrue). Or, if I snooze my alarm again, I won’t be rushed... (untrue). Or, I’ll remember to text that person back later... (untrue). Or, they didn’t wave at me when I walked in, they must be mad at me... (untrue). Or, there isn’t enough time to share how my week really was & they probably don’t care so I’ll just say it was fine... (untrue). 

Hopefully I’m not alone in those. Or rather, I guess, hopefully I am, but my bet is that I’m not. For whatever reason, we know what is true and that truth brings freedom and yet we live in a world of half-truths and pretend in order to have a {false} sense of protection or peace. 

One of the books that I am reading for school right now is about a Christian woman’s journey with depression and bipolar disorder. She writes honestly about the horrific things that have happened throughout her life and what that looked like to raise children through it. She talks about how one of her biggest regrets is that she and her husband were not more honest with their children about why she was hospitalized. She writes “most children are very sensitive and perceptive; they understand much more than we give them credit for. Parents should explain to their children what the nature of the problem is, or the children may create scenarios in their minds that are worse than the realities of the situation.” (P. 17). 

It made me think about how often in our attempts to protect or help, we tend to make things far worse. One little half truth or white lie can easily snowball into a whole story that changes your location of where to do your laundry forever.😉 When we hide the truth, or hide from the truth, the scenario created is sometimes worse that the reality. 

Now, I’m not saying that everyone should know everything and all things that are true should be shared at all times, but I do think that there is room for growth. I do think that we, as image-bearers of the one who IS Truth (John 14:6), can increase in our ability and willingness to engage and share truth. It will require an extra amount of dependence and reliance on the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, but isn’t that the goal anyways? 

So my questions for us this week to process with the Lord are this — 

1. In what areas of my life, have I contented myself to live in half-truth or pretend? 
2. What would it look like for me to answer truthfully — honestly, authentically & completely, when someone asks questions of me? 
3. And for the parents specifically— how do I answer my child in truth while protecting, guarding, and guiding their heart and mind? 

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Here’s a truth to meditate on:
"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn. 3:18). 

Xoxo, 
Alicia :)