Getting Rid of the Ugly

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.