Our Words Matter

POST- Every time we open our mouths, we have an opportunity. How we use it, is up to us. I woke up this morning excited to share a post I had been working on this week, but two red notifications stopped me from hitting publish. The first was an alert that my blog had just reached a major # in page views, and for a very brief moment, I was excited to achieve a milestone I never considered possible. But that momentary joy was gone as I clicked on the second alert. It was a notification that somebody had linked to my site. When a person shares links to the House of Hendrix on their own blog, I get notified. In the past it has been a fun way to see my posts play out in other people’s lives. But this was not that.

This was an entire post attacking my character, my blog, and the comments of my readers. Because my writing often leaves me vulnerable, her words felt like a dagger into a tender bruise. I couldn’t breathe and sat in shock stunned over a stranger’s attack.

Why do we hear the negative comments louder than the rest?

As I came downstairs, I must have looked like somebody had sucker-punched me in the gut. My husband immediately came to me asking “What’s wrong?”.  I explained that a woman on the internet was mean to me and wrote an entire article attacking me. As I rested my head on his shoulder, he spoke this truth over me:

Hurting people often hurt others.

As I lifted my head to look into his eyes, I broke. With a cracking voice and the tear gates open,  I said, “But it still hurts.”

Folks, our words matter.

The words we speak to our spouse.

The words we speak to our children.

The words we speak about a faceless woman on the internet.

Every time we open our mouths, we have an opportunity. How we use it, is up to us. We can bring encouragement & kindness into someone’s life…or discouragement and pain. I remind my children that our words can be sharper than a double-edged sword and we must learn to control them.

If you are hurting and tempted to lash out at those around you, think through if you are causing pain to those you love the most.

Today I had to forgive because I didn’t want a seed of bitterness to take root in my soul. But I wanted to defend myself. I wanted to explain that she was wrong about my not caring for those less fortunate than myself. I wanted tell her that friendship IS a blessing, and that teaching children character values isn’t a waste of time. But I didn’t.

Instead I was reminded of the times my own words have exasperated my children, hurt the heart of my spouse, and discouraged a friend. Today, I cling to the scripture:

POST Every time we open our mouths, we have an opportunity. How we use it, is up to us. Our words matter.

(The referenced post has been deleted, and the author and I are at peace with one another. It is all good )

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When you can’t seem to find your joy…

When life doesn't look like you think it shouldWe are in a season of gratitude. Everywhere we look are articles, ideas, and crafts about being thankful. We pin it. Share it. Post it. Like it.  We know a thankful heart brings joy to the soul but…

But…sometimes it’s just not that easy. For many of us, life doesn’t look how we think it should. Our loved ones get sick, seriously sick. Spouses have affairs. Finances suffocate us. Businesses crumble. Children rebel. We’re single in a world of marrieds. We feel lonely. Depressed. Down.When life doesn't look like you think it should {the House of Hendrix}

The holidays can feel like a celebration of how much fuller everybody else’s life appears. If we have it, the indulgence of food, family, and activity can cover up that pit of emptiness, but the lack of those things can accentuate just what we think we’re missing.

Be thankful? Really? Have you seen my life lately?

I’ve had some of those Thanksgivings where we go around the table sharing what we are thankful for. As such blessings as job promotions and accomplishments were spoken, I wept sharing mine.  “I’m thankful for financial scholarships. I’m thankful my marriage is surviving unemployment. I’m thankful this year is almost over and a new one is beginning.”When life doesn't look like you think it should. Keep reading post at the House of Hendrix

We often have to be strong to endure what’s on our plate, and we persevere when we really just want to crumble. It’s scary to soften our hearts for a moment, to see past the pain of struggle, and to be thankful…but that is where the good stuff lies.

Sometimes being stripped down allows us to understand gratitude with a new depth and purity.  In every lousy situation we have a choice, an opportunity to be thankful. An opportunity to choose joy.

So if life doesn’t look how you think it should…if it’s harder than you thought…lonelier than you thought…if it’s exhausting, look again.

Look with fresh eyes.
Look without comparison.
Look for a sprinkling of beauty on a tough situation.
Look for a joy that doesn’t match your circumstance.
Look for the unexpected blessings.
Expect them.
God adores you, even when His voice is quiet.

Today, let’s be sensitive that our plates aren’t always equal. Let’s look beyond ourselves and encourage one another. Add a chair to your table, even if it messes up the dynamics.

Let’s make our lives a place of refreshment to others. Let’s cling to the blessings of today and be joyful. ♥ Allison

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Post - When life doesn't look how you think it should - Keep reading at The House of Hendrix

A Tree of Gratitude

Post sponsored by Alpha-Bits as part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network. – See more at: http://www.alittletipsy.com/2013/11/printable-thanksgiving-crossword-for.html#sthash.xSNLA1Hg.dpuf
Post sponsored by Alpha-Bits as part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network. – See more at: http://www.alittletipsy.com/2013/11/printable-thanksgiving-crossword-for.html#sthash.xSNLA1Hg.dpufpost s

Post sponsored by Alpha-Bits as part of the Mom it Forward Blogger Network.A Gratitude Tree - a character-building lesson for each step as handprints are used for branches, fingerprints for leaves, forearm as the trunk and #alphabits to share our thankful hearts. {the House of Hendrix}

In our time-crunched world, I’m drawn to activities that are festive, educational, and character-building. So as we continue our focus this month on gratitude,  I came up with a craft  that combines:Tree of Gratitude - A character-building lesson included with each step of this craft #alphabits

  • character development
  • snack time
  • letter recognition
  • sorting/ matching/word formation
  • and a great gift for grandma

The Tree of Gratitude can easily be adapted to kids of varying ages. My 11 year old had just as much fun as my 6 year old. Here’s what you’ll need:

My kids immediately started sorting the Alpha Bits cereal into rows of letters. With every ‘A’ that was lined up, an ‘A’ went into their tummy. The possible craft projects with these little letters were buzzing through my head…if we could just stop eating them. This whole grain cereal is delish! The shaped pieces can also help little ones become familiar with letters of the alphabet while challenging older kids to form words and expressions of gratitude. r-building lesson included with each step of this craft (The House of Hendrix) #alphabitsBegin by making the trunk of the tree with your forearm. We used brown paint on the outer side of your arm and then pressed onto paper.

Character Lesson –  Our bodies are like a trunk of a tree. The bark protects the good things the roots absorb while also keeping harmful things away. How can we use our bodies to nourish and also protect our hearts?r-building lesson included with each step of this craft (The House of Hendrix) #alphabits

Make the leaves of the tree with green hand prints. We filled in a few gaps with a paintbrush.

Character Lesson – We can use our hands to serve others.r-building lesson included with each step of this craft (The House of Hendrix) #alphabitsUse fingerprints to add some leaves to the branches.

Character Lesson – Our fingerprints are unlike anybody else in the world. We are each made special and with purpose.r-building lesson included with each step of this craft (The House of Hendrix) #alphabitsAfter the paint dries, spell out words of things that you are thankful for with the Alpha Bits cereal. You may help younger children with this step by writing out their words on a separate paper for them to duplicate.  Glue their words of thanksgiving onto the branches of the tree.

Character Lesson – Our words are a reflection of our hearts. Let’s use words of thanksgiving and of encouragement for one another.

r-building lesson included with each step of this craft (The House of Hendrix) #alphabits Tree of Gratitude- a craft and character-building lesson with each step {the House of Hendrix} #alphabitsThe Gratitude Tree can be a keepsake or a gift. Ours are proudly displayed on our playroom walls. Thanks for stopping by for craft time today. Allison

I am grateful for my readers. If you missed our Thanksgiving Advent post, you can learn how we use November to prepare our hearts for the indulgence of December here.A Gratitude Tree - Includes a character-building lesson for each step. I love when a craft strengthens not just fine motor skills but the heart as well. |the House of Hendrix

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