Motherhood Could-Do’s: Thing Three

I don’t want to add anything to our “Motherhood Should-Do” lists (the Lord knows they are MUCH longer than they *should* be anyway), but this week, I’m asking for 3 spaces at the top of our “could do” lists. I think you’ll love them…

Thing One: Every mother could experience the pleasure of giving her children physical affection.

Thing Two: Every mother could experience the joy of making eye-contact with her children.

Thing Three: Every mother could experience the integrity of speaking to her children with a gentle tone of voice.

Scripture says that it’s the Lord’s kindness that leads us to repentance.

It’s His mercy that makes our hearts glad to be alive day after day.

It’s His sweet-like-honey Word that revives us, restores us, and helps us.

Oh, how the Lord blesses us, His children!

Wouldn’t it be nice to be like Him?? Don’t we, as mothers, want to bless our children in a similar way?

I believe we can. I believe that the Lord gives us the opportunity to imitate Him in these things, because He gave us the ability to control our tone of voice.

A mother’s voice says it all. And we all know how to use it.

Our words matter very little, compared to the way in which we deliver them.

When James writes about the power of our tongues – the power of life and death! – he surely included our tone of voice as a part of our tongue’s power.

Do we use our voices to be harsh? Shrill? Belittling? Sarcastic? Careless? Impatient? Disconnected? Over-powering?

These voices are not just due to personality differences. These voices, as James writes, are earthly, sensual, and demonic.  (That cuts to my core. Read James 5:13 – 16; I think you’ll see where I’m coming from.)

Wouldn’t our homes and relationships be infinitely more lovely if we would make our tone of voice reflect the wisdom from above? Pure. Peaceable. Gentle. Easy to be entreated. Full of mercy and good fruits. Without partiality. And without hypocrisy. (Lovely, lovely James 3:17.)

Yes, fellow mothers, let us make the choice today to take on a gentle voice. Regardless of personality, past, or power. Let us speak to our children with kindness in all seasons: in sorrow and joy; in admiration and admonishment; in connection and correction. What pleasure awaits us all…

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:18

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(Tomorrow is Family Fun Friday! The girls had no fun, but just wait ’til you see what we were up to! ;)  Subscribe and follow along…)

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