Those are the words I've been mulling over lately. We've been talking a lot about this concept in our home recently. The girls and I have been working on understanding Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." In simple 3 year old terms I've been driving home the point that God instructs us not to use polluting language like COMPLAINING about everything. Complaining pollutes our body mind and spirit.
Yesterday I declared, "from now on we will start each day with gratitude and thanksgiving darn it all!" God is not only dealing with my children on this but repeatedly dealing with me about it too. Your thinking well...where do you think they are learning it. Well this chinobilly is a tad bit slow in this realization. I was studying in Hebrews 13:15 when I realized I need to purposely choose to offer up praise and thanksgiving rather than complaints and grumbles.
This morning the girls just weren't really "getting it" so I grabbed a Ziploc bag and placed a piece of bread in it (this was something I remember teaching to my class of 3rd graders back in our Calvary Chapel days). I sat down on my dirty kitchen floor and gathered my little ones around me. I held up the bag and said "our hearts are like this piece of bread and God is like this sandwich bag. Nothing can get to us to destroy us as long as we respect the seal of the sandwich bag. But if we are not careful and let air into the bag the bread will become stale and hard in a few short hours. It makes God sad when we use careless words and complain a lot. We are not protecting the seal. So today our goal is to be as positive and thankful as possible."
I think I might have seen light bulbs go on as they were mumbling ok mamma but I wasn't quite sure yet. We went about our morning preparing for the Tuesday outing at the library and not much happened. I think the kids knew I was growing weary and cranky. So maybe the combination of the talk and the look in mamma's eyes motivated them. Library went well. We came home and I set to work making lunch. Today's lunch was grilled cheese sandwiches and apple slices. I called the girls to the table and asked them to bring a book they checked out from the library. I read to them while they ate their lunch. After I finished the book and was busy eating my lunch Abby pipes up and says, "Mamma, you make the best gooey cheese samiches...you must weelly wove us." silence...then "fank you for wuving us"
Lawsy mercy I think I've died and gone to heaven! I think it's sinking in!
Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit".
It's amazing the awesome power we have right under our nose...to produce life or death...
Abby's sincerity motivated me to want to do more for them. Just think of how much more generous our Lord and Savior is.
1 comment:
That is so adorable. I think that is such a great concept to teach as you walk by the way and when you rise up and lie down. Way to go!
I am saddened that we missed library today, but I think I need to take her to the preschool class now. We miss you all and I am so delighted & encouraged to hear that you are walking in the truth and teaching your little gals in that way too. Great job!
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