There is something about a slogan that can stick with us for a lifetime like “what would you do for a Klondike bar” or “once you pop, you can’t stop – Pringles.” But commercial slogans aren’t the only ones that have stuck with me. I also hear my dad saying “if you quit today you’ll quit for the rest of your life, or as Zig Ziglar always says “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
My husband and I were riding in the car the other day listening to a leadership book, and the author said something that caught the attention of us both. I can’t remember the line now, but our conversation quickly turned to the power of words that can stop us dead in our tracks. The question arose, how can we parent with that kind of sticking power?
Attempt at Sticking power
Watching the girls grow and learn, has to be one of the most rewarding and beautiful things about parenting. I think the ‘tough stuff’ of parenting comes in those moments when we know we need to stop a behavior or provide coaching but have no clue how to handle it. I, too often, find myself biting my tongue for so long, just trying to figure out the right way to address the issue, and then I end up losing it and yelling at everyone. I always feel so awful after I yell, not because they didn’t deserve it because sometimes they do, but because I know I could have handled it better and provided guidance instead of just yelling.
Don’t you wish we had owners manual for raising kids? Well, we kind of do. I forget about it too quickly when I am angry, annoyed, frustrated, tired…, but it’s there; always providing wisdom for what we need to do – It’s The Bible.
I hate that I forget all my answers are there. When I’m angry, I might not like the answers, because it tells me to keep it together and I’d rather justify my anger, but if I allow them to sink into my heart, it does change my attitude and reaction. I believe that proactive parenting is better than reactive parenting and if I can remind myself to turn to the Bible in the times when I don’t know what to do, I will not only shape the lives of my children but transform mine along the way. I want my girls to know that too. Plus, bible verses will help give me the sufficient sticking power I need to provide quick and useful teachings to the girls (and myself!)
“A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself” – Proverbs 11:17. ” whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” – Luke 16:10. ” Be strong and courageous”…
But the Bible is a huge book?
The Bible is a vast book, how are we going to find our answers, especially in desperate times when our inner boiling temperature is rising? Yeah, I asked myself the same question. So, I visited my favorite website in search of the answers – Amazon! Seriously, prime has to be the best money I’ve ever spent.
I came across a book called Parenting with Scripture. It’s an A-Z guide for teachable moments. It definitely takes a village to raise a child! I couldn’t do this without the resources I’ve found from other mom’s, other blogs or the podcast support I get. Not to mention friends, my husband, my parents… Anyway, this book has bible verses that are connected to attitudes, feelings, and discussion topics to help guide conversations with our kids.
If you’re looking for the sticking power of parenting for your kids, check out this book. Our children are being faced with pressures from their friends and teaching from others. We need to be sure that the right messages are filling their heads and have more sticking power in their hearts then this world is – It’s going to take work, parenting is an uphill battle against the forces of evil and the world outside of our safe homes.
