Truth

We teach our children to be truthful. One of my own children struggled to learn this as a young child and used to tell wildly implausible untruths. As her parents we could see straight through it and didn’t tolerate it: thankfully she has grown into a truthful young lady.

God’s people are to be people of integrity, and this includes integrity of word. This means we are to be clear in what we say – our ‘yes’ is to be clearly understood as ‘yes’ and our ‘no’ is to be clearly understood as ‘no’ and our actions must follow this.

Sometimes there is a temptation to be rather grey about the things when it suits us but I find it really helpful to remember that, 'if you always tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said.' (Mark Twain) We can apply these words of Jesus in all aspects of our lives. But in respect to our patients, there are perhaps two areas to consider.

The first is that we should aspire to be Christ-like in our consistency towards our patients and to do what we say we will do: if we have promised to call a patient with a result today, or check something out on their behalf, or speak to their relative, or make a referral, we must find time to do so or if we really can’t to let them know why or arrange an alternative.

The second aspect is that we need to take care to communicate really clearly with patients and families so that, as far as it depends on us, the information that we give is accurate and we try to ensure that it has been understood by the patient.

But something I have learned in my own work which regularly involves breaking bad news is that clarity of communication must be tempered with compassion and kindness so that we are always “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).

Prayer: Lord, Keep me consistent, both in my words and deeds, so that I do not bring dishonour to Your name.