Thursday, July 17, 2008

Wonderful Words of Life

Sometimes it's not the words you say, but how you say them that can encourage or dishearten your children. Proverbs 12:18 says, "There is that speak like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." We as parents must guard the words we choose to say as we homeschool our children. Phrases like "good job" or "I really like the way you did that!" are great motivating tools to use with your children.

Unfortunately, we get lazy in our attitudes and think we can say whatever we want to our children and not affect them.

If our families are the ones we love the most, we need to talk with the loving words that will bless instead of discourage them. When our children do not understand a new concept being taught, correction needs to be done in a gentle and loving manner. Using words that make them feel inferior or slow is something we must avoid at all costs. Allow them the dignity to be wrong.Don't ruin the atmosphere in your home with thoughtless remarks. Nothing will destroy your success in homeschooling quicker than phrases like "Are you still working on that?" or "I don't know why you do not understand this. Your brother learned this right away."

Ask for God's grace each day to fill your speech with His words and to show the love that will help your child be successful in their studies. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."(AOP)


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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for that thought. I often ask forgiveness from my children for failing to see their accomplishment instead of their failures. :( It's such a trap for homeschooling parents to fall into. I am grateful that we are saved by grace and not by what we do, we would miserably fail.

Cristina M. said...

You're welcome.
I always have to remind me that. I have to see in my kids what God sees in them. We are so blessed that we can homeschool and grow in God's wisdom.