Sweet Words

Proverbs 16:24

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Oh, how I wish that I could submit my heart, my mouth, my words, to these verses when dealing with my children.

In general, God is gracious to remind me to speak to my children with gentleness, but there are those times when my sharp tongue makes our home not such a 'honeycomb' place to be.

This usually happens when I am in a hurry to get something done or to get somewhere. In the back of my sinful mind I convince myself that talking harshly to my children will get them to bend more quickly to my will and instruction.

However, this usually has the opposite effect and I end up with children in tears and an overall 'sour' atmosphere in the home.

I am reminded of the wise teaching that I was taught years ago, being a good mother takes

TIME. Sometimes other things, other people, can wait, if it means that we take the TIME necessary to train our children to obey when called or given instruction.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
"These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
"You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
"You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
"You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

If we are to obey the instruction given us as parents, we are to take the TIME we need to invest in raising our children in the Lord.