I was convicted by my sweet 5-year old daughter, Emma this weekend. She asked if my husband and I still loved each other like we did on our wedding day, to which I replied "yes, of course". Then she asked why we didn't speak nicely to one another...hmmmmm. We both tend to have a dry, sarcastic sense of humor and I could see that we have not often spoken "nicely" to one another.
I have been praying for my husband as part of my daily devotional for the past couple of weeks, and the prayer for today was regarding his speech. I have often found as I work through the "31 Days of Prayer for Your Husband" that I am convicted of the very things I am praying about for him! Today was no exception...
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." -Ephesians 4:31-32
So my goal, dear friends, is to speak only kind words. To be quiet and submissive and edifying to my husband. I will not be upset or angry if his words do not change right away, I will not let his actions determine my own...I can only change me, God must do the work in Rick to change his words, and Rick must be willing to accept God's work in him. But I can set a good example for my daughter and I can change my words and my heart.
A very humble, open to correction soul you have. God Bless your new goal.
ReplyDeleteMy FIL and my own teenage daughter both tend to sarcasm, and while we admire their wit, it is a little cutting, so that we are always asking them to 'be nice'. My five yr old and I have no trouble with kind words but lately, we have both said a mean thing or two, (tiredness, a cold? , whatever, makes me realize that its hard for everyone. Thank you for reminding me that I should pray about it!!