Grace For Our Words

“Jesus is only ever encouraging and uplifting, only ever a speaker of life and truth; even when he chastises us it leaves us feeling empowered to change.”

“And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them.” Ephesians 4:29 TPT

I have a friend from college who is as solid a Jesus lover as I’ve ever known. She and her husband have put their walk where their mouth is and fostered/adopted kids from the system for over 15 years. I’ve honestly never heard a hurtful word come from her lips, so it came as a surprise a few years ago, when having mentioned losing my cool in ways that didn’t build up my babies, she responded with “Oh girl, I lose my cool sometimes. I definitely raise my voice.” I still don’t totally believe her, but can I tell you what grace her words were to my heart that day and how they made me feel like I could do better.

Let me offer those words of grace to YOU: If you’ve lost your cool, you’re not alone. NONE of us are getting it right every day. There is grace here that enables us to encourage each other toward the better Way in God’s Word. If we are ever to be able to offer the gift of graceful words to our babies, we have to accept that there is grace for us and our parenting. So this is your reminder: Grace is yours, you are able to walk in His ways.

Some days the noise and the mess and the being needed can feel like a lot…but it's then that we can choose; choose to lean hard into the grace Jesus offers us and offer it back to our kids. Lean hard into His words of grace and choose to speak those to our kids. Words that bring life and never death. Words embedded in kindness, not harshness, that become their internal monologue and the base of how they see themselves. Jesus is only ever encouraging and uplifting, only ever a speaker of life and truth; even when he chastises us it leaves us feeling empowered to change. He must be our model and the daily goal for us as believing mothers. Aim at Jesus’ example this week. And when you miss the mark, apologize, love on them, re-aim and repeat. Let your words and your effort be an act of worship to God and a gift to your babies.

Action Steps:

We all fail in many areas, but especially with our words. Yet if we’re able to bridle the words we say we are powerful enough to control ourselves in every way, and that means our character is mature and fully developed. James 3:2 (you know what, just read all of chapter 3!)
Read 1 John 1:8
Pray: Lord Jesus, Your grace is like breath to us, as necessary as the air in our lungs. You are beautiful. And we know that if we ask for help in honoring Your ways and raising Your children, You will surely give it. Guard our mouths and give life-giving words to our hearts through Your Holy Spirit. We trust You, we cling to You, we love You, and we ask these things in the name above all names, the name of Jesus.

Written by Brooke, mom of 3