Bowing my words…

Okay, so anyone who knows me in person knows that I am a woman of very few words.  So, why am I blogging about bowing my words?  Well, I really don’t talk much … except with my kids.  I am a typical stay at home mom who must communicate with her children.  Any mom who has lost her voice and has experienced being home alone with one, two, three, or yes – maybe even four little ones knows how difficult it is to not talk with your kids throughout the day! So, in a normal day, I must give instructions, discipline, explain, question, answer questions, paraphrase, interpret cries and toddler speech, help resolve conflicts, pray over hurts, etc.  Whew!  For someone who doesn’t like to talk much, I sure have to do a lot of it =)

And, with that much talking throughout the course of the day, it brings about many opportunities to stumble in regards to words – word choices, tone of voice, and words thought through (or not) before being spoken.  Will my words be a cursing or a blessing to my children each day?  Will my words be filled with encouragement or discouragement towards my little ones?  I must remember Proverbs 12:18…

Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Dillow states, in her book Satisfy My Thirsty Soul, that “bowing our words as an act of worship is not easy.  It is a sacrifice, an offering.”     I want to bow my words so that they bring healing, blessing, and encouragement to those around me.  So, instead of words doused with a harsh, angry tone, I need to be slow to speak and quick to listen and to remember to fill my speech towards my children with qualities found in Ephesians5:19-20…

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus, help me not to grieve the Holy Spirit with my words and tone of voice towards my children.  Help my words to be encouraging and a blessing.  May you help my words to be timely, gentle, and loving.  Amen.