Speak

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)

The other morning at a little gathering I’m part of I told a guy, “I probably shouldn’t say this to you, but I’m going to anyway…”  At this point, he and the other fellow in attendance just started laughing.  Profusely.  At me. 

They evidently know me too well.  They know that I often say things that maybe shouldn’t.  They know me well enough to feel the freedom to laugh at me openly.  And I hope they  know me well enough to believe that I try to speak what is true, and that my motivation is love….at least in my better moments.

To speak at all is risky.  To tell people the truth is even riskier.  To speak up with the truth in love is not easy to do, and often it is even harder for people to hear, if they will even listen in the first place.

So I guess the laugh at my expense is OK.  Love you guys.