Speak THESE Things (Believing the Best for your Children)

Power: (noun) 1. The ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality

2. the capacity to direct or influence the behavior of others

            (verb) 1. To supply with [mechanical or electrical] energy

2. to move or travel with great speed or force

If we are told through the Word of God that we hold the power of life and death in our tongues (Proverbs 18:21), and we embrace this definition of power, does someone other than me occasionally misuse my power?

I get it. Being at home with these folks all day is hard. Whatever you have-good, bad, and ugly—you cannot just get rid of it after one period, or after the school day is over; those habits, those traits, those aggravating little idiosyncrasies are there all day and night. What is even more real is that so much of what irritates us about them is our “stuff” that they have picked up. The youngest said to me recently, “Mom, do you realize that the things you get after me for doing, I got from you?” Ouch.

So, how do we use our power differently, especially at this time of year? What might we say that would be more empowering, and even inspirational, for us and for our children? Well, let us think about speaking that…

1. Our children will learn. Oh, there may be stumbling blocks. We might have to go to school ourselves and re-educate ourselves in how children learn. We might have to redefine what progress means for our home. We might have to take a break and breathe. We might even quit comparing ourselves to all the moms around us (Lord, help). There might be a tear or two of exasperation, but whatever are our particular marching orders, we will seek Christ until we get them.
2. Our children are people of influence. When I speak of the goal of my curriculum, I often use the term ‘world changer’ because I truly believe that we are training up a generation that will do something magnificent for the kingdom of God. Each day, we are planting seeds, and we believe God for the increase. Our children will be a thinking generation, with a Godly attractiveness and eloquence (a Moses/Aaron anointing) that draws and compels people to listen and move.
3. Our children need not be afraid. I began writing these words on the day of the riot in Charlottesville, VA, so please pardon me for dwelling on thoughts that are in the front of my mind. I continue to write, and to believe in, the life-changing power of understanding more inclusive history during a time when young black men are being harassed and killed for no other reason than their skin color. Treyvon Martin, killed because he was “suspiciously in the wrong neighborhood?” Jordan Edwards, killed by a lying policeman after leaving a house party with friends? Richard Collins, III, killed by a white supremacist just days before his college graduation? Any of those could have been my son, just going about his daily life.

Though the days bring much apprehension, I choose to trust in God, and to believe Him for better, even if my eyes have not seen it, nor have my ears heard…

At the beginning of this year, I wrote a scripture on our chalkboard:

“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

Habakkuk 2:2-3, KJV

At the beginning of the year, the Lord began to teach me (or I should say reacquaint me with) the power of planning and writing things down in one place versus jots and tittles on every stray piece of mail. It was about that time that I began bullet journaling. Later this year, he began to teach me that if I was to believe Him for the vision, then I must believe in His perfect timing. So I prepare, I pray, and I am learning to watch what I say—even to myself—in the process.

Whose report do you believe? I choose to believe the report of the Lord.