"Wherefore putting away lying,
speak every man truth with his neighbor:
for we are members one of another."
-- Ephesians 4:25

When I was 6 years old we lived in a very small town where I attended first grade in the elementary school located there.

And, of course, my favorite part of that school was recess.  I enjoyed the playground more than anything else, as most 6 year olds did.

What I remember most about this playground was the perimeter at the back of it.  It had a wide, long ditch (which was bone dry most of the time) that was met by a bunch of sandy dirt dunes on the opposite side.

We youngsters loved to play on those dunes.  There were a few trails there and we would play hide and seek and other games.

Of course, we had to climb down into the ditch, and then climb back up the other side to arrive at the dunes.

Now, on one particular visit to the dunes it had been raining for several days prior.  In fact, it had rained so much that the ditch -- which was normally dry – was completely flooded.

The only way to get to the dunes was to JUMP over the flooded ditch.  Which was exactly what we did.

At least, MOST of us did.

I remember my own jump quite well.  I stood a short distance back from the ditch, ran as fast as I could towards it to build up my speed, and I jumped as high and far as I could.

And I came up just a few inches short.  And down in the water I went.

I was so close to making it -- but I didn't.  And, even though I was CLOSE to getting it right, it still came out completely wrong.  I might just as well have tumbled into that water from the other side, because the result was the same.

It doesn't matter if I missed it by an inch or by a yard or by a mile -- I still missed it.  Getting "close" wasn't good enough.

And getting "close" to telling the truth isn't good enough either.  Being "almost" the truth is nothing more than a good old-fashioned lie.

It's important that we remember that our word is what the majority of folks base their opinion of us own. And being branded a "liar" is no way to be an example of Jesus Christ to those who are watching and listening.

Our words shouldn't be filled with exaggerations and "half-truths" and "almosts".  We should instead tell "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

Christian, today you will, undoubtedly, have many opportunities to talk.  Your words will come into contact with a wide variety of people that God puts into your pathway.

Being "close" to telling the truth, or "almost" telling the truth or "barely" missing the truth isn't good enough. Don't fall into the ditch of lies.  Don't let the wetness of untruth cover you today because you said something that wasn't 100% honest.

Instead, "speak the truth in love."  After all...

...almost the truth is still just a lie.

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor:  for we are members one of another." -- Ephesians 4:25

Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!