Awhile back, I was so pleased because I found a way to help my children play together better. When one wanted an item the other had, I suggested they ask to play with it when the other child was done, instead of asking for it directly. Can I play with that when you are done? Of course, the answer was [almost] always yes, so it kept the peace and usually resulted in the toy being shared sooner rather than later.

Lately, though, when I’ve made that suggestion, the response has been, No, I want it NOW. I need a new approach, or a way of refurbishing the one I’ve been using.

Guess that’s my problem too. I want a clean house NOW (without saying no to my flesh). I want obedient children NOW (without the monotony of repetitive instruction). I want my husband to be a master leader NOW (instead of allowing him to grow, as all men must do). What verses will help me and my children?

One verse my husband has been talking about. It reminds me not to be discouraged because God is the one who is doing the work, and he has promised to finish me.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Another passage that came to me after a few minutes of thinking (I also looked up lowliness in a concordance because I was drawing a blank):

Ephesians 4:1,2 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

I think this passage in particular would be better talked about outside of the crisis moment, at the breakfast table, or when I see them glorifying God by their kindness toward one another. I am reminding myself now that it’s important not to give Scripture just when I’m correcting them, but also when I see them doing it right, or when we see examples in others around us. I think I need to work on that, too.

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