I'm Sorry, AGAIN

The bustle of the holidays seems to fill the days.  I have all the things in my head that need to be done, a list a mile long to do, and only a limited number of hours in which to do them.  Today I was reminded that those things are actually called privileges.  Some people have no list, no job, no ability to do, buy or go.  Ever so clearly my busyness became thankfulness.

I was also reminded of something that struck a chord in my heart.  When my son is disobedient and he apologizes for his disobedience I often says to him, "Do not apologize if you plan to do it again.  If you do it again the apology is worthless.  You apologize for something hoping to be forgiven and yet you do the exact thing again and require forgiveness for the SAME THING!!  Be thoughtful about your apologies and make them worthwhile."  As I read the passage below I was convicted of doing the same thing to God in my own life.  Luckily, He is much more merciful in his approach and instead of shaking His finger in my face He forgives me AGAIN!!

Listening and Doing  James 1:19-26

¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ²⁰ Human anger^[g] does not produce the righteousness^[h] God desires. ²¹ So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ²³ For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.²⁴ You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

²⁶ If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

I think one of the things I struggle with the very most is controlling my tongue.  I know none of you have this problem, so allow me the opportunity to share with you the horror of it all.  Something as simple as what I say to the cars around me, who can't hear me.  I learned how to do this terrible car talking when I moved to Connecticut.  I felt like a true New Englander as I told the cars around me how stupid they were for pulling out in front of me!!  The problem now is my kids hear me telling the cars, "I do not approve of your foolish driving!!"  It seems harmless, but my children hear my words and think it okay to call other people foolish.

I also use the words love and hate, often.  I am an extreme personality and often use words for effect and not actually use words effectively.  My children become accustomed to hearing me love and hate things and they think it is perfectly normal to HATE THE DOG for peeing on every chair leg.  Words are very powerful.  Use them wisely, if not for your own sake, for the sake of your children who are learning from you every moment of every day.  It is not a question of "where they got that from?", but rather "why did you give it to them?"  Guard your tongue.

On a completely unrelated topic, we celebrated Chloe's birthday today and while at dinner ran into some people I've known my whole life.  It was wonderful to see them and to be able to share my children with them.  Oddly, one of the women has been the subject of my prayers for years.  My prayer was always for her to see the beauty that God put inside of her heart and to share it with those around her.  Tonight as I looked in to her eyes she seemed different.  I believe she finally found the value in herself that has been there all the while.  I am often so blessed to see the work God does in the hearts of people.  He has and continues to do a work inside of me.  I learn how to be better everyday and to truly understand the precious gift of life.  Sometimes I take steps backwards, but His MERCY saves me.  I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who forgives me over and over again(Day 21).  Goodnight Friends.