Tastes Like Yuck

by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

When my son was a toddler everything went into his mouth. To my frustration, and many times, disgust, if it fit, it went in. I was constantly telling him, “Yuck, don’t put that in your mouth, that’s not for eating”, or “Take that out of your mouth it’s yucky!” Yuck was my word, and as many times as I repeated it, I questioned if he truly understood. One evening at dinner, after only eating one tiny bite of his food, my sweet boy proclaimed “Tastes like yuck!” I retorted “What do you mean it tastes like yuck?” Then it dawned on me that of all the objects he placed in his mouth, my dinner was yuck. His truthfulness, although comical, stung a little. 

We are called to speak truth into the lives of our children, and one another. That has always been uncomfortable and challenging for me. I have either been afraid of speaking the truth, or my awkward dispensing of it left me with the unfortunate taste of foot in my mouth. The other person was usually left confused, or frustrated. Over the years God has provided me with ample opportunities as a spouse, friend and parent to practice. I would love to share that continued practice has made “perfect”, but in all reality, a growing relationship with a perfect God has increased my understanding of truth. 

Scripture teaches that speaking truth is speaking love. 1 Timothy 1:5 beautifully reveals that  "The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (AMP). God himself is truth, as is His written word, which forms protective boundaries, and exist for our benefit. Sharing God’s truth as He intended inspires us to change. Smacking someone upside the head with the truth may result in outward conformity, but will have no lasting effect. Our motivation must be to lead others closer to Christ, only then will we blessed with witnessing the transforming power of the truth. Ephesians 4:15 encourages us to “Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” (AMP) 

Without the key ingredients of truth and love, our recipe for discipleship will “Taste like yuck!”


– Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal