TODAY’s GIVEAWAYS…
Mama Needs a Time Out by Heather Riggleman
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Do I love you because you’re beautiful,
Or are you beautiful because I love you?
~Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Cinderella
I was never much of a dog person until we got our dog Bailey. (Now, I have to admit, I’m a tad ridiculous.) She’s a tiny little Shih Tzu and she’s the sweetest dog I’ve ever known. I probably tell her she’s a good dog at least ten times a day.
And you know what? She really is.
I was thinking about this the other day as I was scratching her head, telling her how good she was, and I started to wonder… is she good because we love her so much and show her affection and praise all the time? Or is she just naturally good?
And then I thought about my kids.
I paused, wondering:
How many times a day do I affirm them – loving them out loud and praising their character and qualities?
Or,
how many times a day do I correct them, pointing out what they are doing wrong or what they need to work on?
As I sat there pondering which comes first–positive words or positive behavior–I was already sure of the answer:
How we treat our kids and what we say to them has a big influence on how they end up acting.
My Pastor shared a message about this very thing a while ago: when we treat the ones we love like a treasure, they become a treasure.
After I heard his message, I went home and wrote a few notes:
What I wrote on my husband Mike’s mirror.
What I wrote on my kids’ bathroom mirror.
(My artistry isn’t the best, but you get the point.)
When we go out of our way to treat our family like a treasure, and speak life into their lives, something amazing happens.
Chins lift, shoulders straighten, smiles widen,
and love grows.
So let’s be encouragers today, moms. If we need to discipline, let’s discipline with grace. If we need to correct, let’s do it softly. And if we need to remind, let’s do it patiently.
And while we’re at it, lets remind our family that they are treasures.
Because they are.
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. -Ephesians 4:29
- Ch…ch…ch…CHANGES Are Coming in 2017 for TMI - December 27, 2016
- What New Thing Are You Ready to See God Do in Your Life in 2017? - December 26, 2016
- Heaviness and Newness - December 23, 2016
