Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Gentleness

You can learn many things from children.  How much patience you have, for instance. 
~Franklin P. Jones

I’ve been participating in Women Living Well’s Gentleness Challenge since yesterday, and even on day 2 I feel so completely thankful for the blessings I have been given.
I admit a serious shortcoming of mine as a mom—I’m a yeller. Hands down it’s my biggest weakness as a parent.

Yelling.

Screaming at times.

Sometimes I’ve reached decibels I didn’t know were possible. The fury just rises within me and bursts out before I even know what’s happening.

Well, Courtney challenged us as Mom’s to be gentle with our words, uplifting.

I don’t want anyone to think I am ungrateful for these blessings of mine, but when they would do something that would be so crazy I would not handle the situation in the most ideal way.

For instance: a few years ago my oldest locked himself in the bathroom and poured toilet bowl cleaner all of the bathroom. Mind you he was 7 at the time, certainly old enough to know better than to do such a thing.

A few months ago I pulled out {again} my oldest son’s dresser only to find an ENTIRE package of gum, chewed up and spit out behind it. Omgsh I was so upset.

There was a time when Hayley took PERMANENT marker and drew ALL over the walls in the school room, omgsh, ALL OVER THE WALLS.

Again, tears of fury streamed down.

Well, yesterday I devoted to being gentle. No matter what crazy, ridiculous, childish thing they do, I will not overreact. And in 2 days I have been challenged and tried and have ACTUALLY stood strong {big ‘ol smile}

Yesterday, Jaxson comes to me and says, “Mommy, I am sorry for overflowing the toilet”.

My response is of course, “oh no.” I could feel the fury rising within me. “What did you do?” I asked; to which he sweetly replied, “I flushed the construction paper down the toilet”.

Oi vey. He couldn’t possibly have known not to do this, but even if he had, a gentle answer was what he received.

And today, before school I hear Jordon {the oldest} in the bathroom flushing the toilet 3 TIMES. Again I say, oi vey.

So, I go in and the toilet is overflowing. He had used AN ENTIRE ROLL OF TOILETPAPER to wipe himself.

For the love of goodness, seriously? I thought at that moment, “God I am not cut out for this gentle thing.” But, I can do all things through He who gives me strength {Phillipians 4:13} and I indeed gave him a gentle reminder that if he needs help, he can most certainly ask. He’s never too old to ask for help.

I breathed a sigh of relief…..GENTLENESS

I didn’t think I could do it, and it’s only been 2 days, but guess what. I feel so joyous. I don’t feel overworked, tired, anxious as to when the kids will work my nerves to the bone.

I am so thankful I saw Courtney’s post and took the challenge. I am so thankful even more that our Creator is so gentle with us! I can take some serious lessons from Him!

 

3 comments:

Samantha Lambert said...

I love this for so many reasons. My mother was a "yeller" and I caught myself doing the same thing as I got older. Children learn from the behavior of their parents. You will notice a much calmer household (and a quieter one) if they learn that screaming is not necessary. There are other ways to get their attention. Great challenge!

Abigail Jasmine said...

LOVE your blog, girl!

Awesome post!!

Erin James said...

what a good example you are :) i want to strive to be gentle as well. what a blessing to your family! :)