Words

   The idea of words has been in the media in the past week or so. I have given it a lot of thought as well. The Bible is clear that our words have great power and consequences, yet we seem to use them so carelessly. I worry that our children are surrounded by words - on TV, the radio, the computer- that are too dramatic. Flowing through those ear buds is a river of vehement information, sentiment and emotion. It is as if we live in a world flooded with hyperbole. Everything is either the best or the worst; perfect or evil; to be loved or to be hated; to be taken terribly seriously or to be mocked.

   In both Matthew and Luke, Jesus tells us that what we say reflects the condition of our heart. ("Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:36 and Luke 6:45). As parents we need to listen to our children's speech. What children say about themselves and their world can provide insight into their souls. Souls we are shepherding. Their words can be a clue as to the needs of each child, be it to buoy up a sagging soul or to correct a lack of humility, patience or generosity.  We need to listen carefully and not just correct the words, but the condition of the heart the words reflect.

   We, as parents, are not excepted from governing our words as well. Cognitive psychology tells us that  what people hear profoundly impacts what they feel and their concept of themselves. I think children know intuitively that the words of their parents, teachers and friends reflect the feelings of the speaker's heart.  Small words can have an enduring impact on our children. I cringe when I hear, as I do regularly, parents saying negative things about their children in the hearing of the child. I have heard in the last week parents referring to their young child as a monster, a bulldozer, and trouble. (As in, "Here comes trouble.")  I hear parents referring to their children as lazy or stubborn and I see the reaction of the children. It is not good.

   Our words should be chosen carefully. Ephesians tells us to use our words to minister grace to the hearer. The gospel of Matthew tells us we will give an account for every idle word.  Choose what you say and what you and your children hear carefully; it has an eternal impact.

Peace in the new year,
Michelle

Christmas Day

 Today, Christmas morning dawned and my family was not together. My oldest child is in the hospital with a serious injury. Yesterday, Christmas eve, I shuttled back and forth from the church to the hospital. At three in the afternoon my husband was at the hospital so that front was covered. The pageant was on the horizon. I decided that it would  be harder to explain what needed to be done to get the pageant underway than it was to just show up and do it. I rushed home, threw on something red and went to the church for the pageant. Once I was at the church, I felt surrounded by love and support; everyone was so willing to provide assistance. It was a warm, comfortable place to be for a couple hours. The children were excited and happy and the parents were kind. The generosity of my friends and family at the church was a balm to my very worried soul.

 It is sometimes hard for me to accept help. Last night I tried to hold tight to my responsibilities, but I realized, once the children were out of their costumes and back with their parents, that I needed to accept the gift my friends had given me, the freedom to go right back to the hospital and sit with my boy. It was a wonderful and generous gift, not many people want to sort and fold costumes, store risers, remove masking tape from the floor,  or serve sandwiches on Christmas eve, but that is what my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ did. I don’t know who did most of it, but I thank all of them, known and unknown.

 Now that our son is being discharged this afternoon, albeit with many, many restrictions and conditions, I again feel thankful for God’s many blessings on this Christmas day. We will go home and be together and I will now let down my guard and weep and sleep and feel blessed to be physically surrounded by my immediate family and spiritually surrounded by my church family.

Merry Christmas,
Michelle