Tested Resolve

Why is it that when I decide to do/change something that my decision is challenged the very next day/hour/minute?

I have been singing the fruit of the Spirit to my girls recently. I want them to grow up knowing Biblical principles and at their young ages songs are a fantastic method. They both enjoy music and I enjoy singing to them.

In doing this, I have been challenged in my own behaviors/actions. Stop and think about it:

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

If we live by the Spirit let us keep in step with the Spirit."

Galatians 5:22-23a, 25

I know that I need more of all of these characteristics in my life. Add to this coming across:

"Be completely humble and gentle;

be patient, bearing with one another in love."

Ephesians 4:2-3

So, I decided that I need to work on gentleness (first). I don't want my children to grow up with even perceived hostility. I want to use a softer tone, I do not want to simply yell from across the room/house because I don't feel like getting up and walking to them. I want them to know that they are valued enough to be talked to in a normal tone. I want to show them what it means to be gentle and to have a gentle spirit. That being said, I am still learning what that means and looks like in my daily life.

I decided this one evening after my girls were in bed. THE VERY NEXT MORNING my resolve was tested. They woke up fighting and arguing and just being ... well ... in hindsight - kids. But, I tell you - that was a very hard time to stick to my guns. I am proud to say that I did manage to not just say "maybe I'll start tomorrow" and give up (I did think it several times). You know what happened over the course of the morning? They calmed down. They stopped yelling/screaming and eventually played very nicely. I don't expect that to work so well every time, but what a great encouragement!

Busy?

I had a great time visiting with a good friend yesterday. Our conversation raised a thought provoking question: Why is how busy you are so often equated to how you're doing?

How I am doing (feeling) should not be measured in respect to the fullness of my calendar. That being said, my response to her was something more along the lines of "we've been really busy, but we're doing pretty well.". I had not thought about how often I view my sense of well being to my calendar. You see, I very much dislike being busy. I would MUCH rather look at a blank calendar than one filled with something happening each day ... I like down-time, I like to be low-key.

I think that the world around us has done us a great disservice. We constantly feel that we must be doing something or going somewhere. Staying home and spending time with my family is just not good enough. I don't want my girls to grow up with that mindset, which naturally means I need to change my own.

So, the next time someone asks "How are you doing?" take the time to really think about your answer, are you really that tied to your calendar for your emotional well being?