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Sunday, January 8, 2012

Gentleness Challenge

I have been so inspired by a new blog I found Women Living Well written by an amazing Godly woman named Courtney who daily encourages her readers to Walk with the King. She too is a homeschooling mama to her precious children. I know this is my blog where I write all about my adventures of teaching preschool to my God given blessings of 2 sons, but this challenge is too good to not share with you other mommies out there. This month she is giving a challenge to speak gently to our children.

So I've taken the challenge! My heart's desire as a mom is train my children in the instruction of the Lord with a gentle and kind spirit. But let me be honest, I do not always succeed in this. Just last week I had a terrible, no good, very bad day and much of it stemmed from my not kind responses to my children. I was so saddened by my responses and want to speak gently to them. Thankfully, I serve a forgiving God who offers grace. And thankfully the next day was much better for all of us. :) I am realizing as a mom that my words and tone set the atmosphere for our family. I want that atmosphere to be of love and kindness and more than that I want our home to honor God in all that we say and do.

The assignment for the week from Courtney is:  "I encourage you this week to smile more, hug more, SLOW DOWN, listen, take a deep breath.  When you feel like screaming – whisper.  Pray pray and then pray some more.  Take time to write out, meditate and memorize the 2 verses above, as you pursue gentleness."

Hop over to The Gentleness Challenge and check it out.

A more gentle Mommy,
Trina

5 comments:

  1. Good luck on your challenge, sounds like a great idea. I am completely behind on responding to comments so I am so sorry if I never responded to yours, but just in case, thanks for commenting on Cachey Mama’s Classroom
    Lori :)

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  2. I know exactly how you feel, Trina. I have days like that too. And when I do it always weighs heavily on my heart too.

    I think we have to just pray for the patience, gentleness and compassion we need each day, then make a conscious effort to be mindful of type of mommy we want to be as we go through our day.

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  3. Love this post.

    Thanks for your comment at Reading Confetti. Happy to have found your blog and am a new follower!

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  4. Thanks Ladies for the encouragement and "bloggy love" comments! I do love comments, then you don't feel like you are writing to yourself. :)

    Thanks Lorie for joining our journey. I have a special place in my heart for reading specialists as teaching reading and writing to my former 1st graders was my favorite part of the day! Some days I miss my teaching days, but I am grateful that for now God has called me to teach my babies.

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  5. You made ME smile with all your sweet comments on my posts, Trina, and I think they were kind of a virtual hug, so I am sure you will do well with your children this week too :)

    And I am going to go check out the gentleness challenge right now! I think I am actually going to print out this week's challenge and hang it somewhere that I will see it. Or maybe several places. And I think I need the reminder to speak more gently to my husband as well as my children! He has been getting home from work late the past week and I have been more cranky and less encouraging than I would like to be.

    Thanks for sharing this!!

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