Exaggeration and Embellishment

I enjoy the great fictional story telling of my good friend. He is proficient in this wonderful but fading art form. Conveying the details of fictional events in words and images often involves improvisation, embellishment, and hyperbole around a dinner table. I truly enjoy the atmosphere of a good evening of storytelling.

However, I need to watch myself in general conversation to prevent slipping into storytelling. I find it so easy to exaggerate and embellish. When I do that I lie. Scrupulous honesty and trustworthy speech are vital in my relationships. So when I choose storytelling over accurate information I create problems for myself and for others.

Not only does exaggeration and embellishment cause problems, but Proverbs says that lying actually evidences our hate.

A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. (Proverbs 26:28)

There is a place for storytelling but in my conversations and communications of everyday life, meticulous truth telling is what God requires of me.

Join me this week in carefully evaluating our conversations.
 

Sharing the journey with you,