SGOOT (Sunday's goings on on Thursday)

Upon seeing Jeff and I together sans kiddos, a friend from church last night commented that we had a "built in babysitter". More aptly put however, she is a "Mom in Training". And last night was no exception. Through her sacrifice, a great gem was and is to be bestowed upon her.

I had forgotten my phone at home (providentially?) and could not be reached when Kate decided to have an all out hysterical fit and could not be calmed. Had I been reachable I would have immediately left and missed what could only be called God's Great Mercy on my Parenting.

Amongst all the other great stuff that I could talk-blog-shout about all day, this (little?) one stuck out to me. Let me just confess that this is not the first time God has addressed me on this matter.

Paul opens Philippians 2:12 by saying "Therefore, beloved..." PDiddy talked about how if we are going to address a brother or sister in Christ or a CHILD in some kind of instruction or admonishment, were we able to first say "beloved" or "favorite little one".
Are we in the "mindset of Christ" when we address others? For me, this was about my own precious children!

How about this? If we saw a friend in some pattern of sin and heard from God to talk to them about it how many of us would? I mean, to admonish one another in love is scriptural but rarely done. But if we did, would we not be OH-SO-CAREFUL? Would we not pray first, BESEECH the Lord to be with us, preface beyond preface what we said to them with every qualifying statement there was? (not that that would necessarily be good but we WOULD!)

In other words we would be sure to let them know that we were approaching in LOVE.
BUT!!!
With our children does it go that way? With me, uh..not always.

I cannot even COMMENT on what I have said to my children in rebuke the last few days and none of it started with "beloved". It normally starts with a frustrated and biting remark on some failing I view as continual. OUCH LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's worse?????? The big "failing" I see in one daughter was her abruptness with her sisters! ARGHHHHH the pain. Now, I know this is nothing new for most of us. We all know the old cliche that we can see our faults in our children. But I yet aspire to allow God to strike that sin out of me and stand in the gap with my own kids that they might be shown mercy and NOT ADOPT my sinful patterns before they can be stricken from me lest they subsequently be "caught" by them!

I must now endeavor to preface my instsructions and admonishments with love and praise and not insult!
Confession: The other day I was telling my oldest how much I loved her and she said, "Really?" I was like, S, are you kidding me? Do you really not know that I love you? She said, "No, of course I know that you LOVE me, but sometimes when I am in trouble, I wonder what you THINK of me."
Oh my people. Oh my. Lord, right now I confess and repent of this.

Last night when I was about to "jump on" her for not getting into the shower after telling her three times, that WONDERFUL Holy Spirit stepped right on in.
"Sloan! How many- (hear brakes screeching)
"Sloan, do you know how much I love you? How much I appreciate your watching your sisters? You are so wonderful! Thank you for working tonight out, I know how hard it was! You are the bomb!!! (all smiles from the arrow)
Now I know you know I've asked you three times to get into that shower, right?
Off she goes, skipping into cleanliness. Happy and free, knowing she is loved even when rebuked.
Ugh, I could take a shower myself just thinking about my own shortcomings!!!