Truth-tellers

Resolve Week Two:
I resolve to lighten up.  
To read about the other resolutions...click here 

The other day I was running a little late to a bridal shower (not unusual for me.) Because of my terrible time management skills I had to rush to get dressed and wrap my present so I was relieved that I had only gotten there 10 minutes late.  Upon arriving the host served me a drink and I began mingling with the guests.  After greeting quite a few people a friend came up behind me and whispered that my tag was hanging out of my shirt.  I thought it was the tag of the maker of the shirt, but no, it was the entire price tag that I had neglected to remove in the rush.  So there I was mingling at the party with a big old Macy's tag hanging down my back!  So embarrassing!  But I was so grateful for the friend that had let me know and had saved me from going through the whole party that way.

In those kinds of situations we welcome the truth-tellers in our lives.  The friend who will tell us when we have something in our teeth or an outfit really doesn't look good on us.  Those kinds of friends are not afraid to cause us momentary embarrassment to save us from further humiliation.

However there is a type of truth that is not so easy to receive from a friend.  The kind of truth that validates the common expression "the truth hurts." Many times it is easier for a friend or someone close to us to see the baggage that we are carrying around.  But when our defense mechanisms kick in we can become very good at convincing ourselves that we are all right and don't really need to make any changes. I've tried to make it a habit that if I receive feedback that sounds like criticism, no matter the source, I will try to peel it back to see if there is any truth to it. 

We know who the truth-tellers are in our life and we should seek out their council.  If I am avoiding telling one of my truth-tellers something that is going on in my life, it is an indication that I may be heading in the wrong direction.

I thank God for the people in my life who I can count on to tell me the truth, even if it hurts.  I have to constantly remind myself to welcome their input.

A good friend and truth-teller should be:
 (take note if you are a truth-teller to someone else)

1. Trustworthy - You need to know that you can trust that person to tell the truth about you to you, but not the to rest of the world!
2. Faithful - You want truth-tellers to be willing to stand by you as you work through the issues you may be facing. It's unusual for change to happen overnight.
3. Loving - The manner in which hard truths are told should be loving and full of grace.

Take a quick minute to pray and ask God to provide you with good friends that will run alongside of you on your journey ~ if they are doing their job they will ensure that you travel light!

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy." Proverbs 27:6