One of Life's Little Lessons

Life lessons are hard to learn at any age much less when you are a tween. It's in these moments that we can either point our children to the world or point them to God.I choose to point them to God. The pressures that kids are under these days is enourmous. There is the pressure to be a certain weight, wear the right clothes, look a certain way and be like everyone else. It's mind boggling to think about it.

This week I had the pleasure to have such a life lesson with my kids. It was to stress the importance of what we speak - to speak the truth even if you yourself are at fault. Words are a very powerful thing and can damage others without little or no effort. Kids don't realize at their young age just how powerful their words are. And I am not talking about bullying or making fun of another kid. I am talking about speaking truth - telling both sides of the pancake. There is a phrase that I preach with my kids everyday - "Remember there are two sides to every pancake". They come home to tell me about something that someone did or said and I tell them that they need to remember that they are only hearing one side - what about the other person - what's their story?

All of the happenings of this week pointed me back to James 3. Paul talks about the tongue and how it is a two edged sword. As small as it is, it has the power to bring down nations. Out of our mouths we bless God and curse men. It shouldn't be this way and it hit home with me. I had to be honest with my kids about it. So often we bless God and want to get back with words and actions at those who have wronged us or just didn't give us what we wanted. We have all been guilty of it and something that I am not proud of. Praise God for His Grace that speaks to us when we are wrong and forgives us for our sins. I am thankful for His Word that comes to us when we need it at the right moment. We have to take moments like this and learn from them so that we can be more effective and open to God and His Will for us.

For my kids, I don't care if they never wear the latest fashion or if they are considered to be among the popular of this world. I desire for my kids to be a man/woman of God. One that has the good morals, character and one whose word can be trusted. I pray that it's their desire too.