Predictability of Character.
I heard this phrase when listening to a podcast from Risen Motherhood and I've thought about it off and on since I heard it a few weeks ago. Two days ago, no clue why, I thought of it again. And it stuck. Going around and around in my head.
In the podcast they were talking about being emotional and if its okay to show emotions in front of your kids. One Mama cried or showed emotions fairly easily and never tried to hide it. The other Mama, after talking about this subject, learned that she too is emotional, but doesn't like to cry in front of her kids, and displays it in a different way. She shows her emotions in her actions. Whatever she was feeling in her heart, it showed in her actions or her demeanor. As I'm listening to this, I'm picturing one of my sisters who is like the first Mama. And then I heard the second Mama.
"Wow! That is soooo me!" If I've had a rough night and am super tired, I get quiet, withdraw a little bit, and to a degree, don't really care what the kids do. If they want to make tents, watch a movie, dump legos out....I have a whatever attitude. (Don't worry. I care for them, I don't ignore them, I tend to their physically and emotional needs...but I'm kinda checked out a bit.) Other days I'm highly motivated, very engaged, and on top of discipleship and discipline.
I've been observing myself since I heard that phrase. Predictability of character. Am I predictable? We often think of being predictable as being boring. But in this case, it's an awesome thing!!
Earlier this week I woke with that thought on my mind. Predictability of character. And I wanted to be predictable. I wanted to be consistent in showing the gospel in my actions, words, tone of voice, and in my thoughts. Something would come up, I'd start to feel a little annoyed, and then that phrase would pop into my head. It kept me in check many times throughout the day. For the next few days I kept using that phrase and I've been so happy with the results!
Character training isn't just for kids. In fact, if you don't have the character qualities you're teaching to your children, I don't know how you'd teach them. Effectively teach them I guess I should say. You might be able to teach them, but if you're not leading by example, it won't "stick".
I want my kids to know that I'm not going to yell and shout at them. If something gets broken, I won't get upset at them. If they do something wrong, I won't blast out at them. I want to be engaged and to be consistent in my discipline and discipleship. I want them to be aware that they will be punished if it's needed, but that I will be calm and be taking them back to God's Word. What I want is for them to know they can always come to me, for any reason, good or bad. But if they are afraid of how I will respond, they won't come to me.
My goal is to be predictable. Will I fail? Most definitely. But my goal is to succeed. And those times I do fail, I need to repent, apologize, then work even harder. Because it's worth it.
Earlier this week I woke with that thought on my mind. Predictability of character. And I wanted to be predictable. I wanted to be consistent in showing the gospel in my actions, words, tone of voice, and in my thoughts. Something would come up, I'd start to feel a little annoyed, and then that phrase would pop into my head. It kept me in check many times throughout the day. For the next few days I kept using that phrase and I've been so happy with the results!
Character training isn't just for kids. In fact, if you don't have the character qualities you're teaching to your children, I don't know how you'd teach them. Effectively teach them I guess I should say. You might be able to teach them, but if you're not leading by example, it won't "stick".
I want my kids to know that I'm not going to yell and shout at them. If something gets broken, I won't get upset at them. If they do something wrong, I won't blast out at them. I want to be engaged and to be consistent in my discipline and discipleship. I want them to be aware that they will be punished if it's needed, but that I will be calm and be taking them back to God's Word. What I want is for them to know they can always come to me, for any reason, good or bad. But if they are afraid of how I will respond, they won't come to me.
My goal is to be predictable. Will I fail? Most definitely. But my goal is to succeed. And those times I do fail, I need to repent, apologize, then work even harder. Because it's worth it.
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