The words were ugly, the tone of their voices unkind.
It’s happened all too often lately.
So we sit down on their beds and talk about these struggles.
You see, I want our home to be a place where Jesus could walk in and sit down on the couch and feel right at home.
Not because the carpet is clean or the piles of clutter are gone or the candle gives off a nice scent.
No – but because love is here. Because our words are kind and our attitudes sweet and selflessness and service rule the day.
So we talked about how He is here, His Holy Spirit – and how He’s grieved when we treat each other unkindly. And how it’s what’s in our hearts that comes streaming out of our mouths.
And yes – how Mom struggles too. How maybe she’s learned some of the times to stop her mouth, but how the mean thoughts still fill her mind and how that’s just as bad.
I see those words and thoughts – a big pile of sin that needs Jesus’ blood to cover it. And we talk about I John 1:9 and God’s willingness to forgive if we confess.
We pray together, then part in peace, but I know we’ll be back here….’cause we’re human and we forget and our tongues lash out again.
I can’t be my children’s Holy Spirit, but I pray that I can teach and train and plant seeds of God’s Word that He can use to grow them in love, in kindness, in humility.
That’s just what I need, too.
We've been having ugliness in our house lately, too. Such a struggle sometimes to get children to see how they're treating each other. 🙁 Takes a lot of prayer and wisdom, and still I struggle; we're all so human.
Yes, it does take much prayer and wisdom. I'm reading through Proverbs this month, looking for wisdom (for both myself and my children) in this practical book of the Bible.
May your week be blessed!
We're not dealing with this too much…yet. And I'd better knock on some wood! But we have our own struggles, right now with obedience. If it's not one thing, it's another, right?
How right you are!! I know that each stage has its own challenges – as well as blessings!!
We are struggling with tone and words at our house a bit, although not daily thankfully! While I'm sorry that you are having this issue, it makes me thankful that it's not just at our house.
I have to say that it's been better the last couple of days – I'm so thankful!!
Hope your recovery from the surgery is progressing well!!
Yes, yes, yes!!!