Gò0dNews for Life
Tattletales and Bent Batons
M
by Monica Gambrell
any dark lessons are learned when one grows up in an abusive
household, some to be forgotten. One lesson that has stayed with me long-term, however, regards what it means to be a “tattletale.” My generation grew up with the notion that to be a “whistle-blower,” “rat-fink,” or a “tattletale,” was the death of one’s character. It was strictly taboo. When I was three or four years old, my sister broke the arm off my new doll. I do not remember whether this was intentional
he has done has been done through God,”
or not, and that is not important. My feelings were
(John 3:21).
hurt and I knew of no other remedy than to tell my father. Although I had seen his temper on many
• “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” (John 8:32).
occasions, it did not register in my young brain what
• “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all
the consequences of that action might be. They were
things grow up into him who is the head, that is,
horrendous. He took my sister’s shiny silver twirling
Christ,” (Ephesians 4:15).
baton and abused her. I was horrified. I understood
It was not until I became a parent myself, that
clearly then that my words had incredible power, and
it dawned on me—there are times when being a
even at the tender age, I knew how dangerous they
“tattletale” is perfectly acceptable. When an individual
could be.
is in danger of physical, emotional, or spiritual harm,
• “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth,” (Psalm 145:18). • “These are the things you are to do: Speak the
or when moral boundaries are being crossed, be a “tattletale!” Our beliefs and actions must be based in truth, not on the accepted norms of our generation.
truth to each other, and render true and sound
There are eighty verses in the Bible where Jesus says,
judgement in your courts,” (Zechariah 8:16).
“I tell you the truth.” If we are to follow His example,
• “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what
22 // October 2021
we must tell the truth. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
