Warning from the Wise

My mentor, Melodi said something in the comment section below that I thought was so great, I wanted to excavate it and bring it up here for everyone to read.

We were talking about self-control and here's what she said...

I also really pay attention to how my little ones are speaking to each other. They copy me, so it's a good clue to me if I hear them being impatient with one another that perhaps....they've heard that tone in their mom too many times. I actually heard one of the older ones being impatient with a little one today and had to point it out to them. It made me realize that I've reacted in the same way many times before.

Sin is deceptive. What Melodi said reminded me of Hebrews 3:12-13:

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

I think it's a social norm to be impatient with children...harsh...sarcastic and short.

However, scripture teaches us that as believers, who also happen to be mothers, we're to be kind...patient...loving...gentle...and that God wants to use everything that comes out of our mouths to build others up.

Our children are "others."

I'm always convicted when I read this verse...

1 Thessalonians 2:7
As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.

I'm taking Melodi's words to heart, and listening today for how my children speak to one another.

I think God, in His grace and loving kindness can use what I hear today to make my heart tender...revealing the areas where I've been duped by sin and allowed an ugly tone, impatience or lack of self control to become an acceptable norm. Unfortunately, scripture also lovingly warns us...our children will pick up our sin and begin to wear it as their own (Exodus 20:1-4, Proverbs 22:24-25).