This series on words is coming to end. However, we would be wise to never stop seeking to improve how we speak. As the Bible says: “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.” (James 3:2) Speaking without fault might …
Gentle words can turn away anger. They can make a person feel welcome, bring healing to the hurting and hope to the shamed. Yet, in our culture, gentleness is often associated with weakness. In fact, one of the definitions in the Oxford dictionary for gentle is ‘not strong’. In 1 Peter 3:4, Paul says that …
One way we must use our words daily, is when disciplining our children. Discipline is a difficult process for both the person disciplining and the person being disciplined. Having to decide on and set clear expectations, and then come up with reasonable consequences for when those expectations are not met, is no easy task. Add …
Francoise Fenelon, a writer, poet and Archbishop in France, in the 17th Century, once said: “The more you say, the less people remember.” I recently discovered this was one of my Grandpa’s favourite quotes. My Grandpa passed away when I was a teenager. From what I remember of him, he didn’t say very much at …
If you followed the recent Wagatha Christie case, you will have seen how far a person might go, and how much they are willing to spend, simply to try and protect their reputation. In a way, it is not that surprising, considering what it says in Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is more desirable than …
One of the most positive ways in which we can use our words, is to encourage others. Therefore, this is the first topic I would like to look at in this blog series – What’s in a Word? I’ll be exploring the following: (1) what encouragement actually is, (2) how we can get better at …
Words matter – a lot. In fact, Jesus said that, one day, all will have to give an account, for each careless word they have spoken. Matthew 12:36 That includes the words spoken on an evening out. Words muttered under our breath. Words shouted in anger, when we’ve reached our limits. Every word, spoken without …
I thought everything would feel easier after Christmas, once the colossal to-do list had been completed. However, our first couple of weeks back into school work have not been easy. Rather than a completed to-do list, I now have a list of all the ‘do after Christmas’ items, that got pushed back to make way …
It seems as if not a day goes by that my children don’t fight or shout at each other, usually for very minor reasons. I’ve tried so many things. We’ve gone through bible studies on kindness. We’ve had sticker charts, where they get stars for speaking kindly and encouragingly to one another. We’ve tried punishments …
With Christmas fast approaching, we’re being bombarded with all sorts of messages, encouraging us to seek perfection. “Shop here and find the perfect present.” “Order your food from here for the perfect Christmas meal.” “Discover decorations that will make your home perfect for the festive season.” For most people, there is a lot of pressure …