When it comes right down to it, housekeeping can only go so far to create a wonderful place for your family. That's awfully good news for those of us who sorta struggle in this area. Most everyone would choose a home filled with love and acceptance, that's a little on the messy side, over a spotless home that is full of anger and criticism. And we all know that the hurts harsh words can cause go far deeper than any mess a busy family can make.
But when life gets crazy, it's easy to forget the importance of certain words and phrases. Or maybe we DO know their importance, but those words just don't seem to come out easily. Like trying to say "rural juror," our tongues get tangled and we give up trying.
Phrases like, "I was wrong," somehow come out like: "I'm sorry you feel that way," which totally has a different meaning altogether.
It's almost impossible to apologize without adding the word, "but...."
Sometimes, a simple, "Tell me how you feel," doesn't come out of our mouths because, well, we don't really care how they feel.
Oh, I could list so many things I struggle to say.
"Change me, Oh God," is right up there, too.
"Will you forgive Mommy?" means that I have to be humble before my children.
Expressing condolences can be difficult. We don't want to remind a grieving person of their loss and we don't want to say the wrong thing. So we say nothing at all.
And hey. Ladies, just to be perfectly honest, when was the last time you said, "YES! I'd LOVE to!" when your husband wanted to uh, fool around? Sometimes it comes out sounding like, "You've gotta be kidding, after the day I've had!"
Or, "How can I help you/serve you?" to your man. It's dangerously open-ended.
How about, "Have I done something to offend you?" when the person you are asking might actually tell you what you did?
Maybe just saying, "I love you," is hard because the person who really needs to hear it is difficult to love.
Or, "Yes, you may play with Play-doh," a phrase which has been banned from your vocabulary, has not been uttered since the last time your carpet was cleaned.
Today's Small Thing is to think of something that might be difficult to say...and then say it. Perhaps there are words that should be spoken on your knees to your Heavenly Father, and you've been putting it off. Or maybe you know an apology is due someone but your pride is making you tongue tied. It could be as simple as saying "yes" to a child's hare-brained idea to wear pajamas all day.
Yeah, I know that scrubbing something would be far easier to accomplish today. And you may not be able to think of anything to say. But somehow, I've always found that when I ask the Lord to show me what I need to do, He tends to make it plain. And I want my home to be filled with kindness and acceptance, even when it's hard to clear the air by saying what should be said.
POINTS: 40 for untangling your tongue and saying something difficult
What will you say today?
