Friday Fav #16-Ephesians 4:29-5:2

Around this time last year I started running longer distances, and I memorized scripture passages to get me through some of the longer runs and the half marathons.  One of my most FAVorite passages is Ephesians 4:29-5:2

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ¹ Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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I tried to decide what I should post as my Friday Fav.  I wanted to talk about my most fav stain fighter or my most fav coffee right now, but this verse just keeps HITTING me in the face!  I even tried to avoid posting this and I referred back to a list I made in February of things I wanted to post as Friday Favs, and out of 6 Favs, THIS was one of them.  So I guess this is what I need to hear today…and maybe you do too?!?  :)

Let me start by saying this has been a ROUGH week!  The girls have been precious and have played together beautifully.  LK has even slept a few nights this week.  (YAY!)  However, starting school is always very tough on Preston.  He requires MUCH more sleep than his roommate, Lilly Katherine, and the start of school throws us for a loop.  We sent him to half day kindergarten in part because he napped every day until the day before first grade. :)  Don’t be jealous…I can promise you LK wasn’t napping.

Anyway, Preston is a typical first born male.  He is logical, literal, analytical, TYPE-A, a rule follower, and over-all a very good kid.  He’s smart and likes to do his best at school.  It would CRUSH him if he got in trouble in school and I know that he does as he’s told, which makes me a very proud mother!  However…at HOME…this is not always the case.  Preston is extremely aggressive and intense, and the sleepier he is, the more aggressive and intense he becomes.  He’s so good at school that it’s like he uses up all his “good”ness there and has to let all his energy, aggression, wiggles, and frustrations out when he gets home.  That makes for a very challenging afternoon/evening at our house.

On top of that, my brilliant little boy HATES and I mean HATES to read.  He would rather be throwing a ball, and he’s been still ALL DAY LONG, so he just simply can’t do it anymore.  This is where the aggression and frustration enter.  Let’s just say if any of you have walked past our house in the last 2 weeks between the hours of 3:30-5:30 you would think I was beating someone, but it was just Preston avoiding his homework.  I have talked to him, tried to reason with him, Brad has talked to him, prayed with him, prayed for him, we’ve punished him, taken privileges away, and I was at the end of my rope.

I went for a short jog yesterday and was praying for my maniac when THAT VERSE came into my mind AGAIN, and I realized what I need to do with Preston.  I need to be teaching him scripture, so that his little mind can refer back to it when he needs it.  I need to be able to point to specific places in the Word that instruct him and guide him.  I, KATE, I need to hear the words of this verse echoing through my brain every moment of every day!   I myself need to get rid of rage and anger.  I need to speak affirming words to him that will benefit him and not things that will exasperate him or grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  It’s hard for Preston to get rid of rage and anger if his mother is screaming “Settle down!!!”

Preston needs to know these words.  He needs to hide them in his heart, so that he can recognize his sin as he’s being unkind to his sisters or his friends.  I tell my children all the time, “Be kind and loving to each other” which stems from this verse, but Preston needs to KNOW the verse.  It will be much easier for him to KNOW this verse if he sees someone trying to live it, and I can honestly say that he hasn’t seen that in his mother!

I need to watch my mouth, and not let any unwholesome talk come from my face!  I need to not say ugly things about other people, to other people, or to my children.  I’m learning that they don’t hear a lot of what I say, but they do hear the negative things I say to them, about them, or about others, and they remember it.  How horrible!  I am their example!  And this verse clearly says that it GRIEVES the Holy Spirit of God!

I need to stop dwelling on past issues with people and get rid of bitterness.  This is something Preston struggles with, so I need to be a good example!

I need to treat my children the way I want them to treat each other.  I still have to discipline them, and correct them, and train them, but I should do it without screaming at them in a fit of rage and anger!  Yes, that does happen sometimes.  I am able to sit and calmly talk to them, but sometimes I just get to the end of the flipping rope, and I lose my mind like I’m one of the children!  Yes, good example…I know.

I need to show them kindness and compassion.  I find this much easier to do to friends and strangers sometimes than to my own family.  I also feel that I’m exempt from this statement before 8 am, as I am physically unable to be nice or kind to anyone before 8 am! :)

I need to be an imitator of God!

I need to live a life of love, and for some reason I know that God gave me these 3 precious, wild children to show the meaning of the word LOVE!  I don’t do a very good job of that sometimes!

This verse just keeps coming to mind this week.  I think that’s the point of scripture memory.  I think maybe I should heed the words and try to teach them to my children.  I think this needs to be OUR Friday Fav for the week!

Happy Friday…now go memorize Ephesians 4:29-5:2!

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ¹ Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.