I am not in favor of lying. I don’t like when people lie. If they lie once, how do you know they won’t lie again?

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what the definition of a lie really is. Is there a time when telling a lie is the best thing to do? And, every lie is an untruth?

The reason I have had these thoughts is that I just celebrated my birthday. It always sneaks up on me, and I’m not sure why, because it happens every year.

It was like when I was in school, we always had a test on Fridays, and I was always surprised that the teacher had a test.

So my birthday this year was a surprise because I was so busy doing other things that I forgot about it. Having a birthday every year can be a bit monotonous.

One good thing about my birthday is that the Graciosa Mistress of the rectory’s birthday is two days after mine. And so if she remembers my birthday, I will automatically remember hers. I love when a plan comes together.

Over the years, I struggled with a certain problem. Do I really know exactly my birthday? Do I know the exact day, the exact month, the exact year?

The reason I say this is because my parents are the ones who gave me this personal information. And to be honest, they haven’t always been honest with me, I’m sorry to say.

For example, it took me a long time to realize that Santa Claus was not real. All those years my parents told me that Santa Claus was real and that he would bring me gifts if he was a good boy. I believed and trusted them.

I still remember the day I found out that Santa Claus wasn’t real. When I approached my parents with this new information, they simply explained it by saying, “Son, we were trying to make your life better and give you something to look forward to.” Then they would smile and ask me if I liked my Christmas present.

So if a lie produces good results, is it okay?

Then there was the Easter Bunny. Every year we celebrated the Easter Bunny and collected the eggs scattered all over the yard. I was quite fascinated with the Easter Bunny to the point that I raised bunnies.

Then the day came when I realized that the Easter Bunny did not exist.

Once again, I approached my parents with this new information I had, and they explained it to me saying, “Son, we just wanted you to have something fun to look forward to.”

So a lie is okay if it ends with someone having fun!

As I got older, my favorite was the Tooth Fairy. For every tooth I could pull out, I would get $0.25 under my pillow that night. Every time I had a loose tooth, I would get really excited and start planning what to do with the $0.25.

My parents were very excited when they saw how excited I was about a loose tooth, and my dad helped me get it out. Then, when I went to bed, I slipped it under my pillow in eager anticipation that there would be $0.25 under my pillow in the morning.

Every morning there was that $0.25, and I grabbed it and ran to the kitchen and showed my mom and dad what the Tooth Fairy had brought me that night.

One afternoon, I was looking for something in my parents’ room and I found a little box full of teeth. They seemed somewhat familiar; in fact, I realized it was my teeth.

Once again, I went up to my parents and said, “Why are my teeth in this little box?”

Nervously, my mother and father looked at each other, and then my father said, “I’m not sure. Maybe the Tooth Fairy dropped it by mistake.” Then both my mom and dad would laugh and remind me of that $0.25.

So, were my parents honest when they told me when my birthday is?

I say all this to try to understand when it is appropriate to lie.

On my birthday, several people asked me: “How old are you today?” Then they would laugh.

So, taking some hints from my parents, it might be appropriate for me to make up some lies to keep everyone happy and enjoying themselves.

As I blew out the candles on the birthday cake, I said, “I’m not sure how old I am, but I feel like I’m 27.” Then everyone would laugh.

Someone said: “What was your best birthday party?”

I had a few in mind, but I said, “The one I’m having with you guys right now.” And they all laughed.

I told some other lies that I won’t mention from time to time and then I looked at the group, and everyone was enjoying themselves. Based on my parents’ example, if people are having fun, it’s okay to lie.

Feeling a little guilty for the day, I read what David said: “Blessed is the man who puts his trust in the Lord, and does not respect the proud, nor those who turn to falsehood” (Psalm 40:4).

At my age, I must know that nothing good comes from a lie. My birthday resolution this year is: “I will not lie, no matter what.”