Whether or not to be nice to my big family is a decision I have to make daily.
Long ago I realized that we as women can be life-givers, or we can bring death. While we carry human life in our bodies, we can also speak words that kill.
I don’t know about you, but before I had children I was not a naturally cheerful person. It was always so much easier to work for darkness, and I was so immensely equipped to be filled with negativity and bring others down.
But no matter what our natural tendencies, we need to choose what side we will work for; the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light.
So how do we do it?
Try this:
- Every morning, as soon as you realize it is morning, don’t begin by thinking about how good and kind you are going to be–that is a great way to ensure that you will fail miserably.
- Instead, focus your thoughts on God–God as He expresses Himself in the Bible as being full of comfort, lovingkindness, forgiveness.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort
2 Corinthians 1:3
- Imagine that Jesus is right there beside you, as He said in His Word, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Fix your entire gaze on Jesus, just as the Apostle Paul said, “Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.” If you will do this, your own, nasty, grumpy, tired self will melt away, and the grace of God will flood your heart and your mind.
- Next, put those feelings and thoughts of goodwill to use by greeting your family members with cheerfulness, allowing yourself to be a conduit to put God’s courage in their hearts for the day ahead. As you give it away, it will grow bigger in you.
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25
- Act like you are cheerful and loving and amazingly patient and understanding, even if your conscience tells you you aren’t being “real.” This really works, believe me! Even if your emotions don’t kick in at first, your spirit will eventually gain the upper hand and you will begin to become the wonderful person inside that you portray on the outside.
Then, after your insides are beautiful, you can dress up your outsides to match!
Thanks for this article! So good, and so true. I’ve printed this one off for my notebook!
I also wanted to let you know that articles you wrote long ago (years?) have been a source of encouragement to me for a long time. I have one of your articles that I’ve had printed off in my homeschool notebook for at least four years, and it is such a good set of reminders for me. I didn’t actually know that you wrote it (I didn’t print your name on it at the time) until I recognized a phrase from it in one of your newer articles and realized, “Oh, that article was by Sherry!” 🙂
Your blog is a real ministry – thank you again!!
Comments like these really, really bless me, Diana. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to encourage. My heart is to be a conduit of God’s help and love to mothers everywhere who struggle just like me.
Hi sherry,
Thank you for all the encouragement. Do you remember righting something in an older post about a book you read about a mother during the depression making lemonade out of lemons? Does this ring a bell or am I not remembering correctly? I just remember being amazed at the story and wanting to read it.
Thanks.
You are very welcome–I’m not sure which post that was; I will look into my archived files and see if I can’t find it…it may have been about my own great-grandmother.