It was one of those not so proud mama moments, where instead of speaking life and encouragement to the ones I love, my words came out hurtful. It was undeserved. Through the grind of day to day, we need to be conscience of the words we speak, and the tones we speak them in. We impact those around us, whether we know it or not. Thankfully, sometimes even when we mess up, we are shown God’s grace, through the undeserved love from another, and hopefully, we can glean from those moments, reciprocating the same love to others.

Tim: “Can you do this Lego set with me?”

Me: “No,” was my quick reply. I was focused. I had to retrieve a Redbox movie that had become lodged under a seat in my van, and I had no idea how long it had been there.

Tim: “Ok, I will do a puzzle then.”

I heard the sadness in his voice and I realized how I came across; sharp, direct, and not interested in the notion of doing Legos with him.

Yet, the truth is I covet those memories with my kids. I desire for them to feel loved and secure, always. But at that moment I realized even though my tone and actions had nothing to do with the request, and more to do with my oblivious focusness over something that really wasn’t that important, I had let someone I love feel:

• unimportant
• hurt
• possibly rejected

My sweet 5 year old was putting Himself out there, asking to play with me, what an honor, yet I brushed it off.

I know as moms we wear lots of different hats. Each day has it’s own list of chores and things to accomplish, even though it would be nice to play all day! It wasn’t necessarily that we couldn’t play at that exact moment that made me stop and reevaluate my actions, it was that I let my distractions and tiredness affect my tone and conversation rather than showing Tim the love he deserved.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

The same tongue that can cry out to God for forgiveness, is the vessel used to speak life or death unto others. Do we use our words and tone to encourage or discourage others? Our life is filled with a myriad of topics and choices every day. Choose to encourage. Choose to be that smile on someone else’s rough day.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8

I was able to retrieve the Redbox DVD, only to find it was only an empty case! Once I got back in the house, I asked Tim if he still wanted to do the Lego set, he was thrilled. I was offered humbled pie as Tim was so quick to forgive me and respond with joy to spend time with the person, who only a minute earlier seemed too busy. I was so thankful for his undeserved forgiveness.

Kids give me a special window into the love of God, and how we need to love others. With each passing day I feel walls are being broken down in my heart, showing me this is how you love.

And He said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3