Well, I think I said in the very beginning of this blog and I know I've said it before, but sometimes that little thing a lot of people were born with, that thing that lets you censor what you say and makes you say the right things...well, I didn't get one of those. Sometimes, I say the wrong thing at the wrong time, or the right thing but in the wrong way. This past week, I said something that I still say was the right thing, but totally in the wrong way! The worst part of it, is I offended some people that I care very much about and I would never want to hurt them intentionally! Since I said it on Facebook, I apologized on Facebook. Facebook can get a lot of people in trouble, because you can't read intent or deliverance. At this point it doesn't matter what I said, but, I had some great people call me on it. All that said something questioned my motive, but did so with love. In fact, my brother in law was quick to site one of his favorite Bible verses, James 3:5-6, "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity..." A great reminder that my tongue can and does get me in trouble! It's been like this since I was a kid and I would say it's an inherited trait, as many in our family posses this trait! :) However, that is not an excuse and as I would tell my kids, in my sternest Mommy voice, "If you know it's a problem, than you should be even more careful to guard yourself!" I messed up. I was inconsiderate. Then the mail came....
In the mail that day was my Thriving Family magazine, a Focus on the Family publication that we enjoy about every other month. And what do you think there was an article about? Being considerate of every body's feelings. Basically, keeping your mouth (and Facebook) shut! If you don't have anything nice to say...I think the headline actually read: LOLA! THIS IS FOR YOU! Maybe not exactly, but close enough. I got the point. The article had a really cool exercise for kids to do to teach this lesson. To bring it home. I decided to do it that night!
That evening, I told the kids what I had done. One of 'em even said, "Mom that ain't nothin'. You always say stuff; it doesn't mean you mean anything by it!" (ouch!) But that's my point. I told them we should always be careful of the things we do and say because it can be taken the wrong way or it can hurt someone. It doesn't matter if I thought it was a "vent" or a "rant" the point is, I possibly hurt some people that I care about.
We each put a raw egg in a small brown paper bag and had to carry it around for an hour. The egg represented "feelings" and the point was to be careful and not break or damage the egg. Now, for Addy, I had to modify this a little. There's a not a point big enough to prove to send a 4 year old around the house with a raw egg! Sorry! Her egg was confined the living room and dining room. Anyways, the rest of us carried the egg in the bag and we all made some really good observations.
It was difficult for me to go about my usual afternoon of cooking and cleaning, while hanging on to (an egg) someones feelings. I had to think about what was in my other hand and had to be careful not to bang it on things if I got in a hurry. John said it was hard because he just kept wanting to put it down. Isn't that a little like ignoring others feelings and just acting like their not there? Presley wanted to name her egg and she drew a little design on it...I think she is definitely the more caring person in the family! lol, She went the extra mile. And I'm sad to say, Addy played with hers and broke it and the only thing she said she learned was "eggs break too easy!" But actually, isn't that the point exactly?
So, it's been a crazy week, marked by my being a goof ball and hopefully teaching the kids to learn from MY mistakes! I think we have so many opportunities, without making mistakes to teach our kids these valuable lessons. I just hope to do my best. Let me leave you with one of my favorite verses, nonetheless. At work, we call this "the Dispatchers Prayer" but again, it seems to scream my name! Col 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." I hope I have the grace, I know I have the salt and I pray that I can know how to answer each one!
Thanks for reading! And have an awesome rest of the week!
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