So I'm on this training kick with my children, teaching them to have a happy heart. It's a phrase I picked up from my church family, one that they use liberally with their children, so if I've heard you say it, thank you.
Teaching your kids how to have a happy heart is an interesting concept. It works well on multiple levels. Julia told Noah the other day that having patience meant waiting with a happy heart. When they experience frustration or difficulty, we encourage them to be real with that emotion, to experience it, and move on. I think the key is to move on. Recently I told Julia that whatever had disappointed her early in the day was legitimately frustrating and difficult. But it was like, 9:00 AM- and if that emotion was allowed to, it would cloud the rest of her day. I explained to her that she couldn't change what happened, or how she felt about it. But she could choose her perspective on the rest of the day. Julia's 4. I don't know if she got that or not, but I hope if I keep saying it one day she will. I hope so, because in my experience its alot harder to learn this principal at 29 than I imagine it would be at 4.
That's the other key. "Do as I say, not as I do". We all know it doesn't work, right? So this means I have to model this behavior. In the car when drivers pull out in front of me. Or when the light turns red when I'm already running late. When the dog runs through the house with muddy feet. When I try to carry too much to from the car, and drop of all things, the eggs. When I just can't seem to get the recipe right. When my kids won't stop whining. When my husband is running late from work. When my finances don't add up like I want them to. When I feel like I'm working too hard for too little. When I'm sick. When I'm tired. When I have PMS. (BTW, If any of you figure this one out, please let me in on this.) I guess the point is that I can't cuss someone out under my breath (just an example, not that I really do this....) and then lovingly tell my little children to "have a happy heart."
I have been meditating on this. What does the word say about having a happy heart? Here are some of the passages that have captivated me:
2 Corinthians 6
3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
Proverbs 15
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes [1] the bones.
And about the dreaded proverbs 31 woman:
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Notice that it didn't say, she obsesses in angst and worry planning the time to come as it would have if it were written about me.
So, I'm trying to learn to choose a happy heart right along with my kiddos. Me and Jules and Noah. Anyone want to join us?
Some days you wake up hearing birds singing, wind sailing, and tree limbs dancing. Some days you wake up to glimmering sun shine, the smell of coffee brewing...and some days you don't. This is a record of many of my days....
I cried when I read your blog. You are such a good mommy, and you will reap what you are sowing. It's really good seed and you can't go wrong with what you are doing. I was ministered to by the scripture verses also. Thanks, Mary Ann
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