Applying Good Scripture to Bad Attitudes
The Holy Spirit convicted my heart immediately. The same words of reprimand I spoke to my six-year-old daughter were spoken to me by my heavenly Father.
“Aren’t you too old to keep crying about everything little thing that doesn’t go your way?”
Sweet Baby Girl has had a rotten attitude about absolutely everything for the past week. Her neck hurts when she turns it like this, her brothers are mean to her when she’s mean to them, and the sun has been shining too bright.
Responding to God’s Word helped us both.
Do all things without grumbling and complaining. Philippians 2:14
I forced myself to calm down and remember this verse when the washing machine, filled to the brim with brown water, dirty clothes, and detergent, decided to die.
Big Brother has a bad case of the pre-pubescent blues. Which means, the rest of the family suffers right along with him. He’s choosing temper tantrums, nasty remarks, and sarcasm as a way of surviving this trying time in his life. Little does he know; Mama is struggling with her own fierce case of something called Pre-Menopause. I can dish out temper tantrums, nasty remarks, and sarcasm so much better than this rookie.
The Holy Spirit convicted my heart.
We’re riding this hormonal roller coaster together with Ephesians 4:29.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Little Brother, who also happens to be a big brother, is sandwiched between his siblings. His very best friend in the whole wide world has a little sister too. And my son is probably going to marry her. That way he can be real brothers with his friend – and not just plain ol’ regular friends. Well, this dear friend’s dad was just deployed to the Middle East.
My son understands as much as an almost ten-year-old possibly can about the realities of the circumstance. With sincere concern on his face and an unsteadiness behind his whisper, “Mom, what if his dad dies?”
The Holy Spirit convicted my heart immediately.
Together we cling to Psalms 62:8,
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.
There are so many verses in God’s Word. So very many gifts He gives to help us as we go along through parenthood, growth, and life changes. Some days are easier than others and those are the days our hearts praise God with gratefulness and thanksgiving.
But we are going to have plenty of days where we limp along and don’t know what to say, think, or feel. Those are the days we need to proclaim James 1:5,
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
God’s Word is a lifeline. May we use it accordingly.
God bless you and yours,
Angelene Woodard www.unqualifiedmom.com
