What to Say....

Do you ever feel as if you have to have just the right thing to blog about and post?

I have been struggling about what to share this past week or so. I cannot believe it has been 2 weeks since my last post. I have written about 10 posts in my head and even started a post on tattling that I want to share but....

We have been testing. Listening to a few kiddos that read a page long passage at 16 words per minute is lots of fun. Right as they are about to reach the 3 second miscue rule, they say the word. BUT, I am beyond proud of how they did. =)

We have done some fun math activities but I forgot to take pictures.

Grades and report cards have happened....I hate grading papers.

I have several packets for TpT that I cannot seem to finish.

I found out another loved one has cancer.

The weather in Texas goes from 75 to a high of 32 in in about 2 days....I have a desire to hibernate when it is cold.

I just seem to be in a funk.

Then, I saw this:

I think I feel as if I still have a hard time trusting myself about what to blog about. There have been times I know God placed a message on my heart to share. There are still times I have worried about what I have shared.

Today our message in church was about our words. It is always amazing how God puts us where He needs us when He also knows what we need to hear.

I was reminded today to not forget the power of our words.

At the beginning of school one year, we did a team building activity as a campus. We were told to remember something hurtful that someone said to us. When then thought of something, we wished we had heard. We then got in 2 circles...an inner and outer one. The person standing behind us whispered those wishful words in our ear. We then moved around the circle until each person had whispered those words in each person's ear and we then switched the inner and outer circles.

It seems we all had longed to hear similar words and almost none of those words had anything to do with our outer appearance or how smart we were. We had wanted to be told we were important, cherished, valued, and worthwhile. We also realized how it was easier to remember those negative and hurtful words.

Have you ever heard what might be considered kind and sweet words delivered in a sarcastic tone or even by someone you are so used to hearing speak in a mean, bully voice? It is easy in that moment to be judgmental and think to ourselves that we would never speak to a child that way. But you have to remember and think about how you are only hearing a snippet of their conversation but in that moment impressions are made and conclusions are drawn.

I know there have been times I wish I could not only take back what I said but take back the tone of voice I used. I try and apologize to my kiddos when that happens but I know there are times I might not even realize I have hurt their heart.

Our words can be mirrors. They not only reflect our hearts but the can also be the ever present image of God in our lives...a reflection and light for others.

It is easy to let the pain of hurtful words cause us to not respond in kindness and patience. How we react to our kiddos teaches them how to react to others.

When you walk onto your campus, you are a mirror that others are looking into. What do they see? 

From My Heart to Yours,