Forgiveness

For this week’s edition of Fresh Year, Fresh Start, we are asked to share what God has pressed upon us regarding how to train, discipline, disciple, and teach the precious treasures we have been entrusted with.

And man, is it a difficult job at times.

There are days when I’d just as soon pull my hair out as to brush it.

There are days when I question if I have this parenting thing down. And there are days that I am sure that I don’t.

For a fresh year and a fresh start, I need to start with me. The best way to “teach” or “train” my children is to “live” it in their presence. My sweet boys do not miss a lick.

Hear me?

I said they do not miss a lick.

When McDaddy and I are talking about things or situations, their ears are 100% tuned in.

Sometimes days or weeks pass before they ask me a question regarding a conversation that I thought they were not paying attention to.

They are also pretty quick to question my motives and behaviors just as I would question theirs.

Whether I’m driving in the car, talking on the phone to a salesperson, or interacting with them, it is important to watch my behavior, and my mouth.

Oh sweet mercy. The mouth.

If I made a list of my faults (and believe me, it would be a long one!) my mouth would be at the top of the list.

My mouth is a serious source of trouble for me. Especially with my kids.

The second that some sort of nonsense flies out of my mouth, I am reminded of Psalm 139:4 that says, “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” And by that time, it is too late.

The Holy Spirit is quick to speak to me about my mouth and reminds me to try to be better the next time. What can I say? I am a work in progress. Thanks to forgiveness, I get a fresh start everyday.

About a year ago, our six year-old told me a lie. Knowing that this was a very important life lesson, I sent him to his room so that I could think about how to handle the situation and how I should discipline him. I opened my Bible to find a verse about lying. We sat down with his Bible and talked about Psalm 12:22 which says, The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.

We also discussed Psalm 34:13 that says ”Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.” I believe he understood the words in the verse and the importance of living it. We talked at length about lies and how they get us into trouble. I had a tough time believing that my little one would lie to me, but it was an awesome opportunity to talk about lying as a sin.

And the we talked about forgiveness.

I am thankful that I am forgiven even though I am a work in progress.

This post is linked to Run the Earth, Watch the Sky‘s Fresh Year, Fresh Start series.

Tagged as: Bible, Christ