today i sat with my neighbour as we waited for the ambulance which was going to do the one thing she dreaded - remove her from her home.

She is frail and has been getting frailer over the last few weeks. her husband was almost in tears as he told me how she was swearing and rambling- she would have hated to think she had been using bad language.

everyone said her mind was completely gone, but i knew she was still in there somewhere. in a brief moment of clarity she asked me if she would be allright, when i said i didnt know but she would get help and we would look out for her husband, she asked if i would tell her a lie, then she peered at me and said "no you wont tell me a lie because God is watching" I almost cried our religons may be different but we share a faith.

often we sit and talk about her childhood in Ireland and about our faith in those few words she gave me the greatest christmas gift she could, her trust. I am so glad i didn't answer her question with a platitude.

dont get me wrong i tell my fair share of lies usually to make life more pleasent but sometimes the best gift we can give is loving truth.