Let Me Be Honest With You!

Have you ever heard yourself, or someone else utter the words, "Let me be honest with you."? I thought of this the other day as I was listening to someone speak to me. I know I have used this phrase many times personally. Usually we use it to get someones attention. However, when I heard it the other day, I thought, "what are you being the rest of the time!"

In that statement is an admission that we are many times less than honest with those we are speaking with. Perhaps we are shading the truth. Perhaps we are simply telling them what we think they want to hear. Whatever the case, if we need to preface something important with the phrase, "Let me be honest with you" we had better take a good look at our conversation.

I know I may be making too much of this. I really intend it to be a humorous example of the things we often say without thinking. Nor do I believe that everyone lies all the time unless they tell you first they are telling the truth. Still, I do think we need to be so careful with the message of our words. How often to we spout out phrases without thinking? Probably too much! If you want to have fun tomorrow, wait for someone to say "let me be honest with you" or "honestly" or "to be honest with you", and then interrupt them and ask them if you are to assume that they have been lying to you up to that point. You will both get a laugh no doubt. At least you will!