“I Had to Lie”
CHOOSING TO DO THE RIGHT THING IS BETTER IN THE LONG RUN.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read 1 Peter 2:22-23.
Verse of the Day: “Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
“But Dad, I had to lie!”
Jessica looked miserable as she sat in the front seat of the car her father drove.
“If I had told the truth, I would have gotten my best friend in trouble!” She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Katie asked me to tell her mom that somebody stole her coin purse. That way she wouldn’t have to tell her mom that she’d lost her money again. . . . Her mother screams at her so loudly.”
Her father nodded his understanding. The loud arguments at the Ramsey’s home were legendary around the neighborhood. Both of Katie’s parents had bad tempers. Jessica had once heard her parents talking about that.
“So you lied,” he said.
Jessica nodded and looked ashamed. “I just didn’t want her to get in trouble.” “And Katie’s mom accused you of stealing money from Katie,” Dad said. Jessica nodded again as her eyes welled up with tears. “I couldn’t get my best friend in trouble.”
Dad drew a deep breath and steered the car into the driveway of their home. He turned the engine off, but neither he nor Jessica made a move to get out of the car. “Do you really think you had to lie?” Dad asked.
Jessica was silent for a few moments. Finally, she said, “I guess I didn’t have to lie. I could have told Mrs. Ramsey the truth. But I would have felt bad if something had happened to Katie.”
“I understand that,” Dad said. “It can be hard to tell the truth sometimes, especially when we might get embarrassed or punished for doing so. Or when the truth might hurt a friend. But we should do what’s right even when it’s not easy. Doing the right thing may be hard sometimes, but it is better in the long run.”
“I guess,” Jessica agreed.
Dad hugged her. “Think you and Katie are ready to tell her mom the truth now? I’ll go with you to talk to Katie’s mom.” Jessica sighed. “OK.”
TO DISCUSS: Have you ever felt like you had to lie? Describe what happened. Usually, when we feel as though we have no choice but to lie, the truth is, we just don’t like our choices. How can you respond the next time you find the truth difficult to tell?
TO PRAY: “Lord, there are times when we’re tempted to lie. Help us not to give in to temptation.”