I was relaxing on the couch after a tiring day, feeling rather exhausted, and a little bit grumpy, as well.
My daughter asked me a question, and being irritated at being bothered, I unkindly snapped a reply at her. I immediately felt bad, and asked myself why I couldn’t have just answer her kindly.
Then the Lord brought this verse to my mind from Proverbs 31: “She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”
I knew I had certainly broken the law of kindness!
As I thought about it, I realized that I had been speaking unkindly to the kids often, and they in turn were speaking unkindly to each other.
That’s when a plan came to mind!
I called the kids into the room for a little talk. I explained the verse to them, and said that I had been guilty of breaking the law of kindness. I apologized and said we were going to start something new to help us ALL remember to speak kindly.
I got a cup out for each of the kids and myself. In each cup I put twenty nickels. For the next week whenever I heard anyone “breaking the law,” they had to pay a fine. A nickel from their cup would be put into the cup of the person they spoke meanly to.
If they were both talking unkindly, they gave me the nickel. I was the “officer” and was the only one who could charge fines, yet I would admit and pay my fine when I broke the law.
At the end of the week, every one got to keep what was in their cup.
The result was wonderful! All of us became much more aware of how we spoke and what we said to each other.
Kind words became something we used much more often than before! I want our home to reflect God’s love, and this little idea was a big help to each of us.
As parents, we need to be more aware of how WE sound as we try to teach our kids to get along.
“Let the words of my mouth…be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord.”
I didn’t realize how often I would get busy with the daily demands, and then get irritable with the kids and speak crossly.
I’m glad the Lord opened my eyes to this and made me aware of MY need to change before I could expect my kids to speak kindly to each other.
You’re welcome! Hope it was helpful to you.
Katie, thank you for your time to put into sharing this. I really appreciate your heart and all the help you are giving this mama who struggles so much.
I think your boys are old enough to understand this, and that it would help them remember to speak kindly to each other. So glad that my blog has encouraged and blessed you!
At what age would you recommend implementing this? I have a 3 and a 6 year old boys.
By the way, reading your blog is inspiring. I proud God continue using you for His glory. You are a great resource. You have no idea how many screenshots I have taken from your blog and ideas. Many blessings.
Kathleen, thank you for your encouraging words!
You’re a good mother with a great idea!
Great idea! I will be borrowing this to work with my kids in the very near future! It’s a great lesson! I’ll be pinning and sharing on Facebook (tomorrow)! 🙂 Thanks for linking up at Women With Intention Wednesdays! I’m looking forward to what you share this week!
Thank you Sara Elizabeth!
Thanks for linking up at A Mama’s Story! This post is among this week’s featured and will be shared across my social media sites.
Well said! I’m guilty of this as well from time to time…like how you dealt with it.
Thanks for sharing on this week’s Mom 2 Mom Encouragement Linky Party! Hope you come join us again soon, Rachael @ Diamonds in the Rough
Miranda, thanks so much for stopping in! This idea was a great eye opener to ME as to how often I broke the law. It’s so easy to get snippy and irritable with our kids if we aren’t careful. And then we wonder why they are being so mean to teach other. :/
Thanks Adrienne. Glad you liked it! 🙂
Where is the “like” button on this thing?
I need to do this in my home! I too am guilty of breaking the law of kindness, especially with my family. And I have begun to notice the same behavior in my children. This is a great idea to keep everyone accountable. Thanks for sharing! I’m glad I found your blog post at the Women with Intention link-up.
-Miranda at http://rahabtoriches.com/
I think all moms have this moment (hopefully). I remember when God began convicting my heart when I would snap at my kids. It changed me and how responded to them, which I am sure made a positive difference in our home. I’m your neighbor at Wise Woman builds…
Good idea….this is an area to be so aware that we are always training our children.
You are right. Our homes would be a better reflection of God’s love if we were kinder, (spoke kindly) to one another.
Kimberlee, doing it along with Valentines Day and teaching love is a great idea!
Wonderful post! Thank you for always being so transparent and candid. Going to do this starting tomorrow as we are studying the love chapter for Valentine’s day.
Thank you, Kathie, for sharing “I Broke the Law.” What a beautiful and helpful idea for mothers as we live each day with our children! I was so blessed to read how you turned this difficulty into a growing time for you and the children.