The Way of Words

What about the words we speak in our home?  I'm under the impression that we feel freedom and security in our homes, and we tend to say words that aren't useful.  Today I word vomited on my husband.  I think it was more unpleasant for me, than it was for him.  The remorse I feel for the things says is still burning in my chest hours later.  The words that I used showed a lack of respect, class or honor.  The darnedest things about words, is that we can't take them back.  Incorporating words into our vocabulary that are for building up is a place to start to bring peace to our souls and homes. 

Kathy Koch has written and recorded so much on this very topic.  She encourages us to not just tell our spouses and children that they are good, but why that is.  "I know you are smart, because your report on caterpillars is top notch."  "I know you are obedient, because you picked up your room without complaining."  "I know you are special, because God said so in the Bible."

So what have we said today that made our families know they are smart, special, kind, and one of a kind in our lives?  Our families are completely worth our words.  Our words of love and encouragement that is. 

Let's incorporate some of these words in our homes this week - best, finest, great, good, quality, high, number one, optimum, premium, top notch, superior, excellent, superb, outstanding, magnificent, exceptional, marvelous, wonderful, first-rate, first-class, sterling, satisfactory, not bad, all right;  terrific, fantastic, fabulous.

Read of the Week:
The Big Talk Book  by Bruce Cook, "10 steps to empower your teen to choose the best - abstinence until marriage." 
 
Find of the Week:
SETHSA Homeschool Conference, http://www.sethsa.org/conferences.htm.  We will be there, will you?

Scripture of the Week:

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.  And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.  In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.  But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.   Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!  Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
James 3:2-12-NLT

"There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun."

Pablo Picasso