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Encouraging Heroes. You can be one too.

Words are powerful tools. As a parent, I need to keep that thought at the forefront of my mind. We don’t realize sometimes how much weight our children assign to the words that come out of our mouths. Just a little bit of disapproval can really impact a little boy’s heart. On the flip side, a heavy dose of “I love you sweet boy” can fill the Love Bucket easily.

I use words every day: to teach, to correct, to inform, to compliment, to love.

I also use words to attract. As the saying goes, “You can attract more flies with honey than with vinegar.” If I want my boys to grow up internalizing the values that Hubby and I are teaching, then I’m much better off explaining things with patience and love. I want to attract them to the ideas and values that we center our lives on. Values like

  • be kind
  • be humble
  • be thankful
  • do your best
  • work hard

are delivered more effectively if I am living them myself, and if I treat the boys with kindness as these lessons are taught.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

Earnest Parenting: help for parents who love their children.