Faith.Family.Love.: 2015

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

I Got It Wrong...

This morning I got it wrong and thankfully, I realized it almost immediately after it happened. One of my children needed some correction and unwisely I corrected her in a very loud voice. Immediately following our discussion, I was convicted of my actions. The behavior most certainly required attention and need for correction and discipline but not in the form that it was doled out. I lost my cool and yelled. As I sat at the dining room table reading my morning devotional, I was convicted of my actions. I knew I needed to apologize to her. A few minutes later I called her over and apologized for yelling. I told her that I was wrong and asked her to forgive me. She immediately did and said it was okay. I responded by saying "No, it was not okay. It is not okay for me to yell at you. I needed to address what you did but I did not need to address it in that way. I told her again that I was sorry for hurting her by yelling." Then we proceeded to have a calm conversation about what had happened earlier.

In my opinion, too often I resort to yelling when one of the kids have made a mistake. And even more often, I fail to realize that I am also making one in the way that I handle correction when I lose my cool and begin to yell. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit convicted me and gave me the power to humble myself before my child to say I was wrong, I am sorry and ask for her forgiveness. All too often our children are hurt by the words and actions of others either inadvertently or deliberately, I cannot afford to add to that hurt. I must be their safe place. From here on out, I will make conscious efforts to yell less and to truly think about two things. Number one, how is what I am about to say going to affect the person who will hear and absorb those words. And number two, how will the way in which I say it will affect them.