Trying Thursday….

Last night I was busy working throughout the house…Making granola bars, doing laundry, doing dishes, folding socks, etc….Bedtime is BY FAR the most trying part of our days. I wanted to enjoy my busy time, (I love to be in the kitchen) and not worry about the kiddos chatting, etc. So I grabbed my MP3 player, and spent the evening listening to my favorite play lists. It was wonderful! I plan on doing this each evening now! It made the day end well for both the children and I. I didn’t hear them “unwinding” and stress. Wow. It was quite freeing honestly.

After I finished my tasks, I made myself a cup of tea. It was a new blend I had picked up while grocery shopping this week. It is made by Lifestyle Awareness, their Stress Balance blend. I can tell you that it was very de-stressing, combined with my play lists, I was at peace and loving my alone time!

While listening to one of my favorite artists, Barbara Streisand, her song “Children Will Listen” came on. It is a song that truly speaks to me every time that I hear it.

Here are the lyrics for some of you that may not be familiar with the song.

“Children Will Listen”

How do you say to your child in the night 

Nothing’s all black but then nothing’s all white? 
How do you say it will all be alright 
When you know that it mightn’t be true? 
What do you do? 

Careful the things you say, 
Children will listen. 
Careful the things you do, 
Children will see. 
And learn. 
Children may not obey, 
But children will listen. 
Children will look to you 
For which way to turn, 
To learn what to be. 
Careful before you say, 
“Listen to me.” 
Children will listen. 

Careful the wish you make, 
Wishes are children. 
Careful the path they take, 
Wishes come true, 
Not free. 
Careful the spell you cast, 
Not just on children. 
Sometimes the spell may last 
Past what you can see 
And turn against you… 

Careful the tale you tell. 
That is the spell. 
Children will listen… 

How can you say to a child who’s in flight, 
Don’t slip away and I won’t hold so tight? 
What can you say that no matter how slight won’t be misunderstood? 
What do you leave to your child when you’re dead 
Only what ever you put in its head 
Things that your mother and father had said 
Which were left to them too. 
Careful what you say, children will listen 
Careful you do it too, children will see and learn. 
Oh! 

Guide them but step away, 
Children will glisten. 
Tamper with what is true 
And children will turn, 
If just to be free. 
Careful before you say, 
“Listen to me.” 
Children will listen… 
Children will listen! 
Children, children will listen 

I have been working on ensuring my words are filled with love, mercy and kindness lately. So when this song came on, it reminded me how very important my words are, and my actions as well. This song carries so much truth.

Our children may not obey, but they still watch, listen and learn from us. We need to ensure that ESPECIALLY during the trying times that we react correctly, for from those reactions they will learn how to react themselves. This is something I am seeing in my children already. There are many things that they do, that I realize all to often that they have learned from me. I am spending much time in prayer, seeking God and His strength to teach and retrain them the right ways to react and speak.

Don’t wait. Now is the time, reteach yourself, train and retrain your children if necessary. They will learn from us, look at yourself and ask if that is who you want your child to be. Make sure you look at the “bad” side of you, not just the good side for an accurate picture of your child’s future.

Step out in faith that God will give you strength, guidance and endurance to complete the task! Our children are the future, they will be the next generation, they will be able to reach others for Christ that we won’t. They will raise your grandchildren.

The task is great, but the reward of Godly children and grandchildren is much greater!

Praying love, mercy and kind words, as well as strength and endurance for you!