Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Laugh Together!


Do you ever wish you and your spouse were closer? What about you and your children? Sometimes, life gets so hectic with jobs, responsibilities, and stress that we forget to make and take the time to enjoy time together.

When is the last time you called your child up on your lap to read him a story? What about the last time you took in a baseball game with your spouse, or went bowling with your wife? There are so many wonderful and inexpensive ways to "touch-base" each day and each week with each other!

Take time to enjoy sharing life together! Even a ten minute game of Yahtzee can build intimacy, or watching old cartoon episodes together can make you share in laughter and connection.

What do you think is enjoyable? What does your spouse think is fun? What do your children beg you to do with them?

Some ideas:
  • Take a walk and hunt for animal tracks, pinecones, various leaf varieties, or flower types.
  • Go to a candy store and stock up on your favorites from childhood together.
  • Make homemade goop or play-doh and form it into letters to spell out something sweet or silly.
  • Get a book of silly jokes from the library and read them to each other.
  • Make "bucket lists" and share your thoughts with each other on the items you each want to do before you die.
  • Splurge on ice-cream with various sundae toppings, and have a "make-your-own sundae" time before popping in a Netflix movie you've all been wanting to see.

The possibilities are practically endless, but your joy and intimacy will continue to grow!

Have fun!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Words of Hurt or Healing?

Proverbs 12:18
Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

Have you ever just basked in the warm and beautiful feeling of kind words being spoken to/of you?

It feels a whole lot better than sarcasm, rudeness, and thoughtlessness, doesn't it?

These words of the wise that bring healing are gifts from our Heavenly Father. He never wanted us to be cut down by others. He never wants us to be hurt.

The problem is that free will thing again; free will in a fallen world. Sometimes good, and sometimes awfully distasteful, huh?

While I can't promise that you will never be hurt again by the carelessness of someone else, I can promise that God has better thoughts toward and about you than anyone trying to tear you down, and this includes yourself! God thinks you are a beautiful creation, and He wants you to know it, too!

Just as kind words, wise words, appropriately timed words, and Godly words bring healing in our lives, we can bring healing and speak encouragment and edification into the lives of others.

We have the power to impact our husbands, wives, children, co-workers, friends, relatives, and even complete strangers with our words.

Don't forget the power of the tongue, or the power of the Lord to overcome it when it is used inappropriately. Be the change you wish to see :-)!