Challenge Accepted...

At the beginning of January I joined a group of other bloggers in a Gentleness Challenge on the Women Living Well blog. I knew that this is an area I could use some growth in, what mom wouldn't with a 4 yr old, 2 yr old, and 5 month baby!

I don't know how many times a day I stop my two girls from talking ugly to each other or keep them from stomping off when they are upset with each other. One day it hit me when my oldest was pretending to bake in her kitchen and said "NO NO NO back up this is HOT!" It wasn't what she said but how she said it...she was imitating me! And I did not like the sound of it!

I know we would all like to use gentle words every time we speak to our children but the reality is, that just doesn't always happen. (It really is a goal of mine though) Some days, I even surprise myself with my lack of patience and quickness of the tornado of sharp words that fly from my mouth. Thank God there is forgiveness and that I am not too prideful to ask my children for it...I really do thank God. The truth is this behavior does not promote family togetherness or model a behavior you want to see executed by your children.

This week's lesson was "dead on" for me, please hop over and read it when you get a chance! This week I hope to focus on practicing self-control when I want to let the tornado loose but I also will pray for more of God's wonderful grace!