DP Daily Prompts: Sweet Little Lies
As kids we’re told , time and time again,that lying is wrong.Do you believe that’s always true?In your book, are there any exceptions?
Yes I can recall my mother telling me more than once, that lying is the biggest sin and God never forgives liars, at the same time she remarked, “if your life is in danger and lying will save you, God will forgive you.”
I’ve always told everyone this story, what they thought I never found out. As I was growing up, meeting more people taught me it’s not the only thing that saves you, there are varied circumstances when a lie helps the poor student to get motivated. I had a boy in my class who was very slow in his work, he’d look around and find all his classmates had finished the task while he was not even close to finishing it.
One day I watched him doing his work to make him feel better I said, “You’re doing good continue.”
These words of mine triggered something in his mind, he burst out crying, “Miss I’ll never make it,I will fail.”
I saw his concern, I had to say something to relieve his tension, I smiled and replied, “You are the best one in my class if you fail, no one will pass.”
Did I lie, partly, he was not the best student, but he was one of the boys who persevered and I did not believe he’d fail.
Kids sometimes cannot gauge their performance themselves, someone older or a teacher’s opinion makes them feel better.
In my teaching career I found out if the teacher is positive the student believes in himself or herself. If a lie helps a child to perform better I wouldn’t hesitate to say it!
nk: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/dp-daily-promp…et-little-lies
Sabethville 
Dear Ranu,
Thank you very much for this inspirational post. I admire people who uplift others like you describe here :).
All good wishes,
robert
Thank you Robert.
It reminds me of a Persian proverb which is actually from the poet Saadi of Shiraz: “Darogh-i-maslehat aamaiz, beh ez sidq-i-fitna angaiz” (I might be forgetting a word or two). It means, roughly, “a lie told towards a noble end is better than a truth which brings discord.” 🙂
I did not want to tell the kid, yes you have a serious problem you might fail.
This truth could destroy him, he was an average pupil who was slow grasping the task
given to him,he needed encouragement.