Kind Words

Andrea of Flourishing Mother had such an excellent post about speaking kindly to one another, especially our husbands and children. It really is worth reading: Speaking Kindly.

I am surprised at myself that this is something I struggle with. I compare myself to the teenager who LOVED to babysit, who soaked up any opportunity to be with children, and who never, ever felt tired, exhausted, irritable, impatient, etc. at the sweet little ones that I watched over. What in the world happened?!?!?!?!

Some days it is a constant battle to reign in my tongue. Sometimes I win the battle, by the grace of God, and sometimes I lose and must come to my children and apologize for speaking to them with the same attitude that I often chastise them for!

I am considering purchasing the book, "Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit" by Teri Maxwell. Have any of you read it? I was blessed to hear her speak on this topic at a homeschool conference and found her to be humble and honest about her struggle with this very issue. I think her book would be pretty appropriate!

I want to tackle this weakness in my life! I want the stranger dropping by at any given moment in my night or day to see through my behavior that I recognize that my husband and children are treasured gifts from the Lord. I want my husband and children to know my love and respect for them simply by the way I speak to them. But most of all, I want to honor the Lord with 'the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart' at ALL times, even in moments of exhaustion, irritability, frustration, etc. Jesus absolutely faced times of exhaustion, irritability, frustration and host of others much worse than I will ever experience in my life and yet an unkind word never escaped His mouth! I must not be happy with anything less in my own life.