Honor each Other
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)
Dishonoring
Brother Scott Stevens had a lot to say on Father’s Day this year. I am so thankful for a pastor like him. So much stuck with my family and me. He shared with us a story about his reaction to his son drilling a hole. His reaction was to blame his son for the size of the hole because it was too big. Later on after he reflected, he realized he was the one who put the wrong size of the bit into the drill, so technically it was his own fault. He described how he let his anger and frustration get the best of him. He went on to emphasize the importance of honoring each other instead of dishonoring. Trying to sleep, this tugged at Brother Scott’s heart and he and was quick to apologize to his son.
When We Do It All Wrong
As a mom, I thought about how many times I have done the exact same thing. It pierced me in the heart when I thought about how my children must have felt. This also made me feel like a failure because of what this taught my children. But I experienced the exact same sadness and regret as Brother Scott spoke of and I apologized.
Speak to Honor, Not Anger
Brother Scott always makes sense, but this piece of information he gave out next, gave me an aha moment. He said, “when you speak to others, speak with honor, not anger.” That simple statement, if we all followed it, could solve an abundance of problems. Brother Scott stated, “When you speak to someone in an angry way, what happens? They get angry. Think about what this teaches your children.”
How You React Says Everything
I know you are thinking like me, my children, my friends, my family, my co-workers, strangers, how can I do that? Think about the person who rubs you the wrong way or the one who gets on your nerves. How do you react? Then I thought about it. What would that say about me if I spoke in a way that honored a person instead of angering them? As with anything that is difficult, which most things are, we should put it in our prayers and watch God help us.
“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:10
Counting My Blessings,
Susan Browder
https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2018/08/06/let-me-think/
