Do I Love You Enough to tell you the TRUTH – Do You Love me Enough to Hear It Without Offense – I don’t know.

A few weeks ago I read a blog that asked that question. I have people I don’t tell the truth to. I don’t lie to them, I just don’t tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

I tell them convenient truth. Couched truth. Comfortable truth. Candy Colored Truth.

I admit it, I do this because I know full well that unvarnished truth damages relationships. I don’t care who you are, the unvarnished truth is hard and if it is the truth comes off as uncaring.
Even if it’s a gift to see ourselves as others see us.

O wad some Power
the giftie gie us,
To see oursels
as ithers see us!
Robert Burns

The opposite is true. If I didn’t care I would say nothing. Why bother.

So, now the fix I am in is the need, even the demand that the truth be told and risking the relationship. I have heard all the pap about there being a good way to tell people bad news. To package the information so they will accept it. A little bit of sugar makes the medicine go down.

The reality is some people with too much sugar miss the whole point. The truth must result in getting a person to face some reality or another and make a positive change in behavior.

If I tell the truth and am rejected, that person rejects me, doesn’t change behavior and it was all for naught. In fact in that case would I have been better saying nothing. Sort of the strategy of hoping for the best and doing nothing about it. Not a good way to go.

Truth, you want the truth? You can’t handle the truth.

I’m in a tough place.