Pants on Fire
courtesy of clipart-library
I’m remembering the funny playground taunt I heard as a kid. “Liar, liar, pants on fire.” I never thought of myself as a liar—an exaggerator, maybe, but never a liar. But that’s not true. I don’t make a habit of lying but when I’m in a pickle I resort to twisting the truth to suit myself. How embarrassing to admit it, but then God already knows my weakness.
I had an opportunity to reverse that course when a neighbor invited me to meet for coffee to talk about her new business selling beauty products. It was the last thing I felt like doing. I didn’t want to hear a long spiel, be asked to try the tubes and bottles of this and that, or host a home party for my friends to promote her new enterprise.
So why didn’t I just admit it? This sort of thing is not for me. Why did I worry about hurting her feelings by declining, but then hurting her anyway by hemming and hawing? I’m sure she got the picture from my lack of enthusiasm.
Isn’t withholding encouragement just as much a lie as agreeing to something I don’t want to do but doing it anyway? How difficult would it have been to say, “Thanks for inviting me. I’m not the best one to help you promote your new business, but I wish you well with it.”
The truth might have hurt—but lying hurts more—and betrays the trust between two decent people.
Bless her venture, Lord, and help her find just the right person to encourage her since I called her this morning and finally told the truth.
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor,
for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25)
Brave lady! How easy it is to say what we think people want to hear, instead of what is really true. Good reminder for all of us.
My mother had a saying “Tell the truth if you must say something, But, some things are better left unsaid”.
I never forgot it, not sure I always followed it.
Thanks for sharing your mother’s wisdom!
This exhortation is something many can identify with. I know I did! Thanks, Karen, for bringing us words of wisdom today with this poignant message and reminder of how important it is to be truthful and loving in all our interactions.
Thank you, Glenda. It’s a process for sure.
Oh, I like this one, Karen and have such a problem with this myself. I have a hard time with “NO.” I am sure she felt your not wanting to do it, but selling something is based on someone caving at a weak or vulnerable moment. Not from strength. That comes from the one who is being sold. Like you did…”Thanks for inviting me. I’m not the best one to help you promote your new business, but I wish you well with it.”
Thanks, Heidi, for your encouragement.
Great message and one to which most of us can idenify. I remember an out and out lie I told one time but I do believe God forgave me even before I told it!! My husband was a minister and we had moved to a new church in a rural area not far from Paducah. It was in the 1950’s and I still hung my washed clothes on a clothes line in the back yard of the Parsonage. (home provided for the ministers family). One of the ladies in the church and I became friends and she sort of took me under her wings and I appreciated her more than I can say. One day she said she had to ask me something. She said she had driven by my house and thought she saw a pair of shorts hanging on the clothes line and wondered if it was.(It was a pair of shorts but I did not wear them anywhere but in the house.)
At that time no grown woman would wear shorts and certainly not a “preacher’s wife. I felt like I would be forgiven for telling a lie and I immediately told her it was a pair of shorty pajamas! She said: “Oh, I am so relieved as it would break my heart if my preacher’s wife wore shorts” her actual quote! Times sure have changed, haven’t they.
I am sure I have ‘sretched the truth” at times but I do try to be “good”! Smile! Love you. Margaret
What an experience, Margaret. Yes times have changed.
Karen,
News flash sister Karen, we all lie. I have I am sad to say but like you I thought that if it’s going to hurt someone it ceases to be the truth. I sometimes settle for a little white one that doesn’t hurt but still isn’t the exact truth. Of course that’s me. I try real hard not to offend anyone but it’s hard sometimes to be totally honest. I have a hard time with saying no sometimes, esp to family and friends. I have OVER extended myself quite a few times and swore I’d not do that again. But that same “Yes, sure” comes out the next time yet again. UGH. You give a great example. You’d be amazed how quickly I can get a headache anymore. LOL.
Jim
Thanks, Jim. Always appreciate your input.
Karen, I got myself in a pickle and lacking in courage, lately. The little guy wanted to mow my yard with a push mower-I knew it wasn’t possible!! Everyday, he approached me about it. I hired a yard man with a riding mower, but had to explain to this young man. So, after mustering up the courage and approaching him “My family wants me to get a yard man for the lawn” I explained boldly. actually, I had discussed it with my daughter earlier, so it gave me a leverage for boldness! It was a play on words but still truthful.
Thanks, Mary. What a great example!