Saturday, October 18, 2008

SPEAKING YOUR MIND OR THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE

About 99% of my favorite people on the planet are under the age of ten, and one of the many reasons why is due to their natural ability to speak the truth, even in public. With the Presidential and Senate campaigns in high gear, it is a relief to be able to go to an elementary school each day and hear someone, even if it's children, speak the truth. Here are some exact quotes from the mouths of babes:


"Mr. W., you're wearing too much cologne."

"I don't like school."

"You're just saying that to make me feel better."

"What happened to your hair?"

"You look old."

"You look terrible. Are you sick?"

"You do it too, sometimes!" (I hate that one.)


One of my fellow teachers, Greg, has a son who says things like this in earshot of the offender:

"Daddy, that man's cigarette smoke stinks!"

"Look at that man, Daddy. He pushed his cart into that lady's car and dented the paint. Isn't that against the law?" (The man looks accusingly over at Greg but is unable to say anything because it was a child who spoke the truth and not an adult who could then be physically threatened.

"That lady just said a naughty word. She has a dirty mouth."

"Look, Daddy! That lady opened that package of candy. Is she going to pay for it or is she just stealing?"



We should treasure the truth. Someone very great once said, "The truth shall set you free." How right He was.

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