Instead of continuing with my planned activities, I chose to go for a short walk with my boy and let him vent about his day. Immediately, the anger turned to hurt as he recounted some injustices at school.
I did the normal half listening and half praying thing as he unravelled.
We ended up on our swing set. His venting ended and I had nothing to say. The truth was, he had a rough day. So now what? I thought.
God put this verse in my mind:
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
I shared it with him and suggested we take turns verbalizing something we were thankful for. Not naming things from the past or future, but the here and now. I said I was thankful for the blue sky. He reluctantly followed my lead.
Immediately his mood lifted. I hadn't "solved" his problems, but we no longer focused on them, and they no longer held the same power over his mood.
What an amazing lesson for me. I will keep this illustration in mind as I encounter difficult days in my future. God's word is Living and it works.
PS. I'm thankful that you took the time to read my post today!
5 comments:
That's a great verse. Thanks for a good illustration of how God's word can change our thought processes.
Great post. Thank you for sharing and reminding.
One of my favourite verses; but your lesson is helpful - to think of it when thinks are going against us.
Great lesson.
God bless.
So wise. I find this is so often the case. So many times the emotions we encounter, whether in ourselves or others, are often the byproduct of some other experience gnawing at us.
Great post.
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