And the Truth is . . .

I still struggle with women preaching/teaching from the pulpit but I do try to have an open heart especially when it's a friend doing the teaching. So the following article/devotion (whichever) is what came out of Diane's sermon.

And The Truth Is . . .

My fifteen-year relationship with Elizabeth (a mutual friend of my ex-husband and me) was at best, pretentious. To keep the peace, I hardly ever spoke the truth to her and, no doubt, she withheld her strong opinions from me . . . most of the time.

After my husband left me, she and I endeavored to remain friends. The waters were tumultuous. Our love was conditional and her advice was never based on God’s truths. With broken oars we rowed, each our own direction, in a boat which steadily headed toward deadly rocks. This storm was rough and we had lost site of the lighthouse.

When she turned all eyes on herself at my daughter’s graduation I had had enough. In the midst of a crowded football field I quietly deliberated how to jump this ship.

A couple of days later, our relationship ended amongst a gale of angry words. The truth came out of my mouth like seething lava. All the while I heard a still small voice trying to transform my spewing into loving order. Not a chance. Fifteen years of bottled-up feelings erupted.

To my discontent, the sermon that weekend was about speaking the truth in love. I smiled and found myself a little less wise with a course of action I did not want to take. My truth telling was many years too late and my delivery missed the mark.

Is truth beautiful? It is not pretentious, and it would’ve set us free if only we could have spoken it lovingly.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. (Ephesians 4:25 NIV)