Wild and Wooly

This is Brett today wondering "what is
wrong with my outfit?"  He asked
that I please post this photo
on my blog, so enjoy.

When I picked the kids up from school today my son was especially crazy.  He ran like a wild animal at the grocery store and then got home and ran like an untamed stallion.  I'm not sure why he was exceptionally hyper today, but I know I was incredibly annoyed.  Homework and dinner took four times as long as normal, but when bedtime arrived he fell fast asleep.

My mom arrived this evening reminding me of the days when I was wild and wooly.  She said some days were just as I described.  At the grocery store today Chloe turned to me and suggested hand cuffs no longer be used on criminals but instead tether them to Brett.  I laughed.  I cried a little inside.  Later he destroyed her rock art outside and I heard her scream, "I hate you!!  I wish you were never born!!"  I immediately ran out to call them both inside to address both problems.  His was a physical one and hers was a problem of the heart.  When I hear her scream these terrible things at him I realize it is out of frustration and not being able to deal with his wild side, but I also know those words have a deep impact on his little heart.  If I struggle to maintain composure when he acts crazy, I imagine she has a tremendous difficulty doing so, as well.

I volunteer for a group that talks to "at risk" teens about Teen Dating Violence and Bullying.  One of the things I mention is the importance of using our words to build people up and not tear them down.  Besides this being Biblical, it is a great concept that is making a comeback.  For years our moms would say, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!"  LIES!  Pay special attention to Proverbs 12:18 which I highlighted for effect.  All of this chapter has wisdom for our hearts, thoughts, and actions as Christians.

Proverbs 12

New International Version (NIV)

12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.

² Good people obtain favor from the Lord,
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.

³ No one can be established through wickedness,
    but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

⁴ A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,
    but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

⁶ The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.

⁷ The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
    but the house of the righteous stands firm.

⁸ A person is praised according to their prudence,
    and one with a warped mind is despised.

⁹ Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
    than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

¹⁰ The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
    but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

¹¹ Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies have no sense.

¹² The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous endures.

¹³ Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,
    and so the innocent escape trouble.

¹⁴ From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
    and the work of their hands brings them reward.

¹⁵ The way of fools seems right to them,
    but the wise listen to advice.

¹⁶ Fools show their annoyance at once,
    but the prudent overlook an insult.

¹⁷ An honest witness tells the truth,
    but a false witness tells lies.

¹⁸ The words of the reckless pierce like swords,    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹ Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

²⁰ Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
    but those who promote peace have joy.

²¹ No harm overtakes the righteous,
    but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

²² The Lord detests lying lips,
    but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

²³ The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
    but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.

²⁴ Diligent hands will rule,
    but laziness ends in forced labor.

²⁵ Anxiety weighs down the heart,
    but a kind word cheers it up.

²⁶ The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

²⁷ The lazy do not roast^[a] any game,
    but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

²⁸ In the way of righteousness there is life;
    along that path is immortality.

I will never be perfect, for certain, but I hope to figure out a way to avoid all gossip.  Sometimes in conversation I might talk about someone else and without trying to gossip, it happens.  My heart feels sadness over these things.  Truthfully, I would likely tell the person to their face, but it had no place in conversation with anyone else.  Every day we make choices and my hope is that we choose our words and our subjects wisely.  We live a crazy life and there are many things we cannot control.  Our tongues are ours to control.  It is my mission to use my tongue to bring healing instead of heartache.  Won't you join me?

I am thankful for children who constantly remind me the importance of holding our tongues(Day 98)!!  Goodnight Friends.

Update:  I have not received an update on Brent today, but I did receive a message concerning my friend's aunt who we prayed for a while back.  She fell from a golf cart while she was being driven to her car and suffered severe head trauma.  She was moving her arm and leg today which was miraculous as she had been in a complete coma since the injury a month or so ago.