What dad out there has not walked through his son’s room and not stepped on a Lego brick? Yes, the best way to bring out your true feeling in the middle of the night is for a kid’s Lego bucket to be scattered around on the floor. They are small, the colors blend in to the carpet or flooring, and they do not bend or flex. You know dad, a lot of times, our words are the same way.
Do You Have Lego Words?
I don’t know about you guys, but I have a tendency to have some rather sharp, stinging remarks at times that fly out of my mouth. I think they are just the bad parts of me coming out of all this goodness, they just happen to come out at the wrong time. The words can be just like those Lego bricks laying on a hardwood floor. When you let loose a small comment it may seem to go un-noticed. However, it has been logged into the mind of your child or wife. It will be replayed over and over in their mind. You will not see an outward event that registers the recognition at first. But over time, the small comments start adding up and make a nasty cut.
There are times that we hide our insults or sharp words in out “discipline and correcting.” I know this is one thing that I am guilty of doing. You take the attitude of guiding your kids to a better decision by berating them or belittling them instead of loving, forgiving and showing them a better way of doing thing. There have been many a time that I have had to go back, sit down with my kids, and ask for forgiveness and make an amends with them. If this is your style dad, I want you to swap places with your kids in your mind and then have the same conversation with them and see how you feel.
Then there are the hard-hitting remarks that we say. The ones that when you say them, you see instant reaction. There is no give in your tone, your actions or your words. They sting, cut deep and leave bruises. Not physical bruises that are hidden away so you don’t look bad, but mental or psychological bruises. Imagine, you are walking in a dark room with Lego bricks on the floor and you with bare feet. You know the pain is coming, but you do not know how big it will be or how small. How close together the stinging steps will be. You just know you have to make it through the room. In many cases, this is how our kids or wife will feel when we talk to them.
Proverbs 15:4
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 The tongue that heals is a tree of life,
but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.
James 3:8
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
One verse speaks that the tongue is able to heal and another that it is full of deadly poison. So how can a man have both? In the book of James this is talked about and I love the answer that is given.
James 3:17-18
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
Men, we must seek God’s wisdom in all things that we do. If we are to be the leaders that are teaching our kids how to act, speak, work, and share our faith, then we need to set the example. Before you discipline your kids, stop and seek wisdom before you say or do anything that is rash. Don’t let your words be like Lego bricks on a hard floor.
From A Husband of a Homeschooling Mom,
Steve
*P.S. ~ Before some of you dads out there start to think that I do not believe in the board (belt) of education, I do. Also, since I am the Chairman of the Board of Education at my house, I use the authority of the position to do what is necessary when the time presents itself. The kids do not like the standard operating procedures of the Chairman since the number of times the board is applied is equal to the age of the kid being “talked” to. So far, it’s rather effective.
Proverbs 13:24
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
24 The one who will not use the rod hates his son,
but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.