A few years ago, my family and I went on vacation. While standing in the South of the Border store, I had an idea. I grabbed a bunch of those stretchy bracelets and ran to the register. Everyone, including the store clerks, was anxious to see what I was up to as I gathered my family around and explained. I passed out 3 bracelets to each of us. Each day we would begin with those three bracelets. Every time you exhibited a bad attitude or complained, you lost a bracelet. At the end of the day, if you had bracelets left, you would receive a treat. If not, you would spend some time alone working on your attitude. We all made it to our destination with 3 bracelets. Day 2 came and Daddy was the first to lose a bracelet for raising his voice at the kids. He was stunned when I asked him to hand one over but changed his tune immediately and the girls thought it was great that he was in the game too. I made it to Day 4 without losing one and then I complained about how hot it was outside. The girls occasionally lost a bracelet but NO ONE lost all 3 bracelets any day of our vacation (okay…maybe I did. See the funny story below).
Best. Vacation. Ever.
When we WANT to control our mouths, we are perfectly capable. In a circumstance where it is imperative that we do so, we CAN. What is it that causes us to relax enough that we cannot control our mouths? I truly believe it is because Satan knows that our words can cause so much damage and he works especially hard in this area. Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life are in the power of our tongue. Deut. 30:19 says that “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE life, that both thou and thy seed may live” We must make a conscience choice. Every Single Day. And, as I read the verse in Deuteronomy, it strikes me that when we choose life, we are affecting our heritage…our kids and their kids! If satan can derail us and keep us hostage to our tongues, he is hurting our families too. Of course, satan would work double time in this area! We CAN change the next generation with our words!
Matthew 12: 36-37 But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Make the choice today to change your words…which changes your life AND the generations that follow you!
Prayer:
Lord,
As I come before you today, I ask you to continue to help me make a choice each and every day to keep guard over my mouth. Let me use the self- discipline you have given me to discontinue those words that are not helpful to myself, my future generations or others. Let my words shine in the darkness. Allow me speak life into situations that others see as dead. Give me discernment to hear what you would have me say to others that would be encouraging to them. Help me choose LIFE!
In Jesus Name
Funny Story about the bracelets:
Our vacation was to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. During the week we were there, we drove by the sand dunes at Jockey Ridge State Park that are in the middle of the islands. Kids were playing on top, flying kites and it looked like fun. During the course of the week, we bought a kite and planned to go fly it on the dunes. We waited until we were leaving town, packed our van and headed that direction. What a wise mom I am for choosing to go play in sand right before an 8 hour drive, huh? That is another story. : )
When we arrived, neither of the adults in the car bothered to check the weather vane to see how the wind was blowing. It was just after noon. I have gotten the kids into the habit of taking a water bottle everywhere we go. The other adult (ahem) decided that we didn’t need to take them with us. After all, “they would just get sandy and the kids would complain about carrying them.” I dropped the rest of the family, went to park the van and headed up the sand dunes. Not knowing where I was going, I wandered around these HUGE dunes looking for the family. The only thing good about this entire story was that while I was pretending to be an Israelite wandering around the desert, I came face to face with a beautiful red fox. I finally found the family and we proceeded to attempt flying the kite. THEN, we looked at the weather vane. It was perfectly still. Here we were in August, at the top of the sand dunes at noon with not even a breeze blowing. Without water. Needless to say, the kite flying wasn’t great. And…we later learned that it is about 25-35 degrees hotter at the top of the dunes. The actual temperature was almost 100 degrees.
Hubby and #1 child started down the dunes while #2 child and I followed behind…and lost them. Not that it mattered too much. I didn’t realize he wasn’t quite sure how to get back to the car either. The sand was now burning our sandaled feet. After wandering around AGAIN for about 30 minutes, I was close to tears. My 5 year old was doing her best but her feet were burning and she was so thirsty. Finally, we made it to the van. AND…I took all of my bands off and said something like this: “I am about to lose all my bracelets so I will just give them to you. That was the dumbest thing I have ever done in my entire life. Ever. It is miserable out here. I can’t believe we didn’t take our water. The tops of my feet are burnt!”…..and on, and on and on.
I was officially the first to lose all my bracelets. See…even this Encouraging Woman has her moments!
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