“Did you brush your teeth?” David’s mother asked him.

David almost said, “Yes,” without thinking. But he stopped himself. He really didn’t brush his teeth. It was habit to give mom the answer he thought she wanted even if it wasn’t true.

“No.” he said, “But I will now.”

Mom smiled and said, “Great.”

David breathed a sigh of relief, he had put another stone in his bridge of trust with mom, and he had practiced his truth telling muscle.

This week in Core Values Academy David learned about the bridge of trust that he had between himself and others.

They learned about the story of the “Boy Who Cried Wolf” and how the boy’s lies had broken his trust with the villagers.

But just as lies weaken or break the bridge of trust, truth strengthens the bridge.

The most important bridge, he learned, was the bridge between God and himself and the bridge of trust between himself and his parents. These bridges are there to get love, advice and help. That is why telling the truth is so important, it strengthens these important connections.

But telling the truth is not always easy. Sometimes it seems like lying will be an easy way out. But in the long run, the truth helps find the problem and get help.

That is why it is important to use the truth muscle, even in small things like brushing teeth. When we practice the truth muscle, we have it ready for when we need it when we have to talk about bigger problems and questions with God and our parents.

Try it At Home:

Talk about the difference between truth and lies.

Draw the bridge of truth with your children. Discuss how the bridge is the path for God and parents to connect to the child and give love, guidance and help.

Talk about how truth strengthens the bridge and how lies break the bridge.

Talk about different examples where they could tell the truth or lie. (ex: brushing teeth, breaking something, hurting a sibling, taking something without permission)

Make a goal to choose to tell the truth this week. Use the bridge as a reminder.