I thank God for you because... - Mother's Day Memories #3

Daily life as a mom requires that we talk to our kids about things they don't like to hear often - correction, chores, homework, bedtime, etc..  Let's try to balance all these negative words with some positive ones. Tell your kid why you think they are so great!  Here are some simple ideas.

1. Write a short note and put it:
                in their lunch box
                on their pillow
                on the bathroom mirror or sink.
2. Make a new special place where you can leave notes for them regularly:
                 a pillow with a pocket in it
                 a see through plastic paper protector taped up on the shower
                 a white board next to the toilet.
3. Make plans to make a long list:
                 10 reasons I love my 10 year old.
                 Message in a Bottle - My husband filled an old bottle with tiny messages for me.
                 Medicine Bottle - fill it with little notes to help them feel better when they are down.
                 On a deck of cards - 52 reasons I thank God for you for the 52 weeks in a year
                 (These last two ideas were from my Bible study leader, Elaine, who inspires me often)

I would love to hear about your ideas for encouraging your children.

When I write these encouraging words to my kids it is amazing to see how my heart is softened toward them as I remind myself of how great my kids really are.  When I have a grateful heart toward them, it is much easier to tolerate the few things about them that aren't so great.  Have a great weekend being an encouraging and grateful mom!
P.S. I am sure your husband would love for you to encourage him as well.

If Mama Ain't Happy - Finding Joy Endnote

I am sure you have heard the saying, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." Well, the opposite is true as well.  As the mom, you set the attitude for the house.  It is going to be hard for your kids to stay angry, mean, or whiny, if you joyfully respond to everything they do with the strong yet gentle love of Christ.

I don't know how often I kick myself because I realize that the behavior that I am continually correcting in my children - the yelling, complaining, materialism, etc. - was learned from me in the first place! My kids would be better, if I did a better job of leading by example - especially with a heart attitude of joy, love, and service.

So, I am excited to tell you, I did something right this week that they decided to copy! I was inspired by the book - One Thousand Gifts - to start my own list of 1,000 blessings. (See my post two days ago for more info on this amazing book.) I simply told them what I had already started, and gave them some pretty notepads designed for grocery lists or to-do lists.  I was pleasantly surprised that they are having the best time seeing who can come up with the most things they are grateful to God for. Our goal is 1,000, but they are both already close to 200!

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." - 3 John 1:4   What have your children done lately that have brought you joy?

Head and Heart Knowledge - Finding Joy #8

I am sure you will be glad to know that this is going to be the last week in this series about finding joy, because I have finally found it. In the seven blogs before this you have seen great information about where to find joy.  However, if you just read all this information, it is never going to do you any good. You can't learn to drive from reading the driving manual. You have to believe it and practice it.

Practicing joy will help you internalize all the information that is in your head - making it heart knowledge.  Only someone with a grateful heart toward God can experience true joy. Even Satan knows all the head knowledge about how to have joy, but he definitely does not have a grateful heart or joy. The Bible gives many suggestions about how to practice joy. (Go back to last Friday's blog "Joyful Verses - Finding Joy #8" to see some of these again.)

Wednesday, I am going to tell you about my new favorite book that has been helping me and thousands of others practice joy even in the midst of great despair. You are not going to want to miss this book.

What are your suggestions for practicing joy or having a more grateful heart?