Simple Truth

Simple truth...
When something happens, and you are to blame, how do you respond?
"My bad."
"My mistake."
"My apology."
I suspect those who say, "my bad" have never uttered the words, "I made a mistake." And, if someone admits to making a mistake, do they apologize?
Maybe you offer something entirely different.
"It's not my fault."
"They had it coming."
"I never...."
Owning up comes from a willingness to take responsibility for our actions, versus, "The dog ate my homework." Honestly.
What drives us to avoid the truth? Consequences? Shame?
What prompts the truth?
Who hasn't played with Lincoln LogsTM, the precursor to Legos? Abraham Lincoln is credited with designing this toy at a young age. I confess I didn't make the connection when I was a kid. I never questioned the name; I just built "stuff" with the awesome linking logs.
Legend holds that there was a cherry tree growing beside the Lincoln home, and one day, Abe chopped it down (perhaps to build more toys). When confronted by his father, young Abe admitted to the deed earning the nickname, "Honest Abe."
In the 1970s another story floated around about President Jimmy Carter (whom I admire and respect). It went something like this:
When Jimmy was a young lad, he chopped down the family's cherry tree. Jimmy's father discovered the downed tree and suspected his son was the culprit. Mr. Carter confronted little Jimmy.
"Jimmy, did you chop down the cherry tree?"
"Father, I cannot tell a lie."
Jimmy hung his head as he replied, "Maybe I did, and maybe I didn't." You can't argue with that.
What prompts us to tell the truth? "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" Apparently, immunity helps.
My grandmother was a seamstress who also made a lot of arts and crafts. I still have the festive refrigerator magnet that touts, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." For years, I liked it simply because my grandmother made it. I've grown to appreciate the phrase, which frequents the Christmas season, "Jesus is the Reason...." It's a simple truth--for the season and beyond.
~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran


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