Truth (Five Minute Friday)

I've been quiet a few weeks. Lots going on. Preparing to move. Saying goodbye to a one-of-a-kind man. Plus the usual mommy-ing, working, and trying to find my long-lost sanity :-)

I missed writing the post a week and a half ago. (the week of grace). And so I decided to give myself some grace, and not be all fretful over having not posted. That worked ok, but I discovered in the past week that I really missed it. I missed taking the 5 minutes to dump my heart on the screen. So this week, as Friday approaches, I am catching up with the post from this past week - because I can't wait all the way until Friday to pause for myself - I need the break. The brain focus. The diversion from the pile of unpacked stuff in my house ... and I need it now.

So, here's my post on TRUTH.
the rules:
1. write for 5 minutes, no editing, typos welcome
2. Link up with the lovely writers popping over to visit on Lisa-Jo's bench
3. Leave a little encouragement for someone else who came on the writing journey this week.

Go.
I try to always write with grace in  mind. I share a lot on here, but nothing I wouldn't want my kids to read someday. Which includes how I reflect on things that happened with some very important people. I'll not lie about stuff, however, words can be chosen carefully to allow others to form their own opinions without the slant I give them in some cases.

And so it is with truth. Someone very special to me - someone who once held my heart - got mixed up in some very unwise choices. It is what it is. I found out, but chose not to confront. Rather, I waited for the truth to come out - for him to face the reality of what was happening. And so it did, in time. As I think about this, years later, I sometimes wonder why I waited, instead of just jumping on the information and taking a different path.

But then I realized this week, that it's the same way with me. I make mistakes - unwise choices - choose the less smart path. And if someone just tosses it in my face, then I get defensive. I try to justify. I ignore the underlying issue - that I didn't make the best decision. And when I figure it out on my own - or rather it comes to light in a way that doesn't put me necessarily on the defensive right away - if it's a useful warning given rather than a blow up confrontation, then lo and behold, I own it. I embrace (sometimes begrudgingly) the need to change. Or fix. Or redirect. Or apologize, or whatever.

And with that recognition, I feel I chose wisely all those years ago to just wait and let it surface in the right timing, instead of the forced timing. He's still not connected the dots, but he will. And my girls will. And I won't have to be the one to do it. Truth learned is better than truth forced upon us.

At least in this house. 

Stop.