This morning, one of my children was putting on shoes and socks, being distracted and slow, in spite of my encouragement and admonition to keep on task. I became irritated, and finally pulled her to me to do the job myself, muttering angrily. I immediately realized I wasn’t impatient, righteously indignant, or merely irritated. I was angry, and I needed to ask a little girl’s forgiveness. As I did so, my other child asked, Mommy, why are you sad?
What should one say? I opted for the truth: I wasn’t just sad, dear. I was angry, and that did not glorify God. Mommy just asked Sister’s forgiveness, and we made it right.
It never ceases to amaze me how God is using my children to change me. I pray that, as I submit to the Holy Spirit’s working in my life, they will grow to understand what forgiveness is, that they need it, and that God is the source of
repentance and forgiveness. Just another day in the spiritual workout called motherhood. 🙂
Boy am I here with you this week! I have been ever so thankful this week for repentance and forgivness as I have gotten angry more than once with my chldren. I am glad that at least out of my sinful anger comes good which is the fact that I am able to teach them that very idea of repentance and forgivness…making it right. Needed to read this today! 🙂
I think we ALL struggle with anger in some form or another. I think sometimes God uses our children to help us think through problems in us that we wouldn’t necessarily take the time to work on. At least, that’s been my experience… I’m with you. I want to be sensitive the the Holy Spirit so my children know how Christianity works “in real life.”