We have standards for the type speech our kids use. Beyond just the normal words that you don’t want to hear from a six or eight year old, there are certain words that we just don’t say. That’s good right. Even though we have recently said good-bye to a television show that they enjoy because of the language and the disrespect that it shows to family and to God. It got me thinking about my own voice. Is it pleasing? Are the words of my mouth and the mediations of my heart pleasing? Do they encourage? Do I use a nice tone of voice? Yes with the rest of the world, but not always with my family. The ones I love most…I boss most. The ones who are most special to me…I yell at most. Does this make sense? It is probably because I spend the most time with them. Or because none of us enjoy cleaning the house, but it must be done. But is that really a good excuse? I don’t think so.

I want to teach them to be pure, therefore I should put no vile thing before me.

I want to teach them to be joyful, therefore I must be joyful.

I want to teach them thankfulness and godliness, therefore I must be thankful and godly.

But most of all I want to teach them to love, therefore…

I must be kind, not envious or boastful, nor proud. I must not be rude or self-seeking. I need to be calm and not easily angered (there’s enough of that in the world already). I need to be forgiving and not keep hold of wrongs that people commit against me or my family. I must delight in good not evil. I must rejoice in the truth. I must protect, trust and keep hope alive. Only Jesus can never fail in loving people. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try harder to be like Him. (Based upon I Corinthians 13:4-8).

I pray you will love your family more today and live to be Abundantly His!