Sharon Sloan

Delighted by His Word. Dependent on His Grace.

Desiring Truth

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“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts…”
Psalm 51:6 (NKJV)

I realized this morning that I am really slacking in my role as the “tooth fairy”! Our children know there is no real tooth fairy. That’s settled. They asked me to be their tooth fairy (story below). I am happy to do it. However, last night Joshua excitedly put his 7th lost tooth under his pillow with great expectations for finding treasure this morning. Well, at 6:52 AM, I realized I had not put my tooth fairy hat on during the night. I asked my husband if happened to, and he said “no”. Quickly, while (I thought) Joshua was still sleeping, I slipped into his room and put some special coins under his pillow. When I got back to our bedroom, Jim said, “Did you remember to get the tooth?” Ugh! I now ran back to Joshua’s room (I wake them at 7 AM on school mornings so I only had a few minutes) and secretly (or so I thought) grabbed the tooth. Later, we all had a good laugh together when Joshua told us he was really awake both times I went in. Thankfully, he was still just as excited to find the treasure under his pillow this morning!
The knowledge to our children that parents are indeed the tooth fairy happened one day during a “car conversation” when they were seeking truth. It became a treasure of a conversation. Here’s how it went:
“Mommy, will you be my tooth fairy?” asked my then 7-year old son, Joshua. “Sure”, I replied, “I will be your tooth fairy.” You see, we don’t know much about the tooth fairy, and Joshua didn’t want a stranger coming into our home, even if she was going to leave treasures under his pillow in exchange for a tooth.

His next question was quite courageous. “Mommy, is there a tooth fairy? And is Santa Claus real?” Trying to get a read on where Joshua’s heart was with this question and wanting to reply to him truthfully, I began answering him in a long-winded kind of way. We want our children to be respectful of what other families traditions are (we never made a big deal out of Santa Claus), and I wanted to be sure he really was seeking and ready for the truth at that moment.

After a few minutes of my discourse, Joshua interrupted me with urgency and asked the question again, “Mommy, is Santa Claus real?” I said, “Well, Joshua, before I answer, what do you hope the answer will be?”. His passionate and sincere reply caused my heart to rejoice. “Mommy, I don’t care if Santa Claus is real or not. I just want to know the truth!” Oh, yes! Music to a parent’s ears! “I just want to know the truth!” I rejoiced and told him that our prayer is that he always just wants to know the Truth!

This unexpected tête-à-tête with my son continues to linger in and challenge my heart. Living in and by the Truth is genuinely freeing. “Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NIV) However, it is very difficult, and it requires courage. It requires abiding in Jesus, the Truth. It requires that we hold to His teaching and that we trust Him. We must ask the Lord to allow our hearts, words, responses, thoughts and behavior to be based in His truth and love. If we live in the truth, our own hearts will be clear of any debris and we will enjoy His light and life. We will respond to nonsense with God’s grace and wisdom. Our speech will reflect His gentleness and love.

As we live in truth, our lives will be a mantle on which He will be glorified.

Faithful Father, cause me to live in You, abide in Your truth and continually seek Your truth. By Your grace and with Your courage, may my life reflect a life lived in truth for Your glory alone. Gently expose to me areas in my life where I may not be living in the truth. Graciously help me to grow in your Truth daily. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.” 3 John 1:4 (NIV)

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6 (NIV)

“But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13 (NIV)

“Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for Your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in Your truth.” Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV)

“…guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior.” Psalm 25:5 (NIV)

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