Honesty

I was concerned as I knew my teenage daughter wasn’t telling me the whole truth about an upcoming event she was attending even though I had asked her very specific questions. This situation made me question her honesty in other areas, and my thoughts started to go in all directions including how perhaps it’s part of growing up as a teenager- to not tell your parents the full truth (and a couple of other teens came to mind)!

I knew this line of thinking was not productive, so I listened to the replay of the TMC Wednesday service with readings on moral courage, Thursday morning before she was awake. As the service continued, I wondered if the message was that I needed moral courage to confront her about this! I realised that was human willpower. It became quite apparent to me that I should not vaunt up error and give it life, nor should I be alarmed. Dishonesty was no part of my daughter or any of God’s children. I didn’t need to allow my thought to ‘assign’ dishonesty to anyone or any situation. As a matter of fact, I realised that I couldn’t, even if I wanted to, as dishonesty could never attach itself to her, just as the cat sleeping on my lap could never become a part of me. This daughter and each of the other teens I had thought of were and are ‘the spiritual thoughts and representatives of Life, Truth and Love”, and this was the only way I could see her. (Definition of Children in the Glossary)

My uneasiness disappeared, but I was still uncertain of what I should say, if anything, as it wouldn’t be right for any dishonesty to continue. I continued to listen to the service, and all of a sudden I saw the situation as she might be seeing it. She may not have known enough detail to give me full honest answers about the event.

An hour later my daughter came down for breakfast and the first words out of her mouth were all the missing details, told in an innocent and open way. I hadn’t needed to say a word.

I silently thanked God for this wonderful insight into my daughter and all teenagers.