I've mentioned before that we don't like Peruvian desserts (or deserts) very much. It's becoming an issue recently. From time to time, sweet Peruvian ladies bring us desserts. I'm pretty sure this is a big deal and that we should be super grateful. For 6 months, however, I've been secretly giving them to my housekeeper. I later return the bowl or tupperware or whatever and tell the person how delicious it was.

It recently occured to Tim (who seems to learn faster than me when it comes to morals) that this is lying. Hmmm. It does seem that if I tell someone I ate something that I didn't eat and further remark on how tasty it was that I am "bearing false witness." I have been teaching the women here recently that it's important to do what God tells us to do and trust that it will turn out better than not doing what God tells us to do. It seems I am finding myself in the place I know they think they're often in-- "Isn't this an exception?"

What are the alternatives?

1. Eat the gross dessert. When I'm asked about it, tell the cook that I didn't like it. (This seems incredibly culturally insensitive and globally rude.)
2. Refuse to accept the dessert. (Equally unacceptable, no?)
3. Give the dessert away. If asked later, fess up.

None of these seem like good responses. Is there another one I'm missing? Am I missing a fair loophole in the commandment not to lie? I feel a little lost. I must say that I'm grateful for a husband who is so incredibly straight-laced (but also doesn't tell me what to do).

Any advice would be warmly received, I promise. If I don't hear from any volunteers, I'm going to pick up the phone and hunt you down anyway.

3 comments

1. Mary on October 27, 2008 at 9:41 PM

   Do you have to say it was delicious? Could you just say, "Thank you for bringing us the dessert. That was so thoughtful."

    
2. Marty on October 28, 2008 at 10:13 AM

   I was going to suggest something similar. You could thank them for the dessert but not mention anything about actually eating it. Then move on to another topic of conversation so they don't have the opportunity to ask you any questions about whether you liked it.

    
3. Emily on October 28, 2008 at 8:21 PM

   LOL - what a great problem to have!
   
   Perhaps you can steel yourself up to take a bite, and then use a lot of flowery but non-judgmental words to describe it, e.g., "it was terrifically sweet with that unforgettable soured-egg smell. You must tell me how you learned to bake like that!" Probably still not very honest, but think about the opportunity to stretch your vocabulary and hear some interesting stories.