Parents, stop lying to your children

04.JAN.11

Editor: There seems to be a trend where people appear to be taking pleasure in lying. People lie for various reasons. For instance, schoolchildren lie to avoid some form of punishment. Parents lie in order not to fulfill some promise they had made to their children; and the list goes on.{{more}}

Talking of parents, including those in religious circles, we need to make sure that we do not practice lying, thus setting a bad example for our children. Ephesians 6:4. We may be accustomed to speaking the truth generally. But what happens when we are very upset with someone? At first, we may have spoken the truth about a particular matter. But as time passes, maybe a month, 4 months, or more, do we twist the facts, deliberately adding false details to the matter in order to damage a person’s reputation? When we do so, we are lying; also, it is not fair to the innocent person, since he/she may then be judged wrongly by others. Parents, be good role models for your children, being truthful and displaying good, respectful conduct in your children and others’ presence.

So let us all strive to be a truthful society, thus winning the respect and trust of others. Ephesians 4:25.

Well-meaning!