Tearing Down The House

The other day I was in the mall and was watching Bella play in the kid's area,

while I fed little Man Conner.
As I sat there I noticed a woman chatting away on her cell phone while her kids ran a little a-muck .
My lungs filled with air, and my heart with pride

as I looked at my daughter who was behaving so well.
By the time my friend arrived I was on a mom-high horse :)

I mentioned to her in hushed tones how that mother had been so careless.
Later that day as I was driving about I reflected on my words from earlier.

The more I thought, the guiltier I felt.
While I did not agree with the style of parenting I had seen,
I had no right to allow myself to become full of pride and then rip her apart to a friend.
It has been on my heart since, to think more about how we can build each other up as mothers, wives and ladies.
There are many different ways this mom/wife - criticism can rear its ugly head
It is so easy to click a tongue at a mother who has a child throwing a tantrum,
For the potty training mom who has had much success to hold it over her friends,

To point fingers at the mom who has a different home-school -schedule then we do
The breastfeeding mom to chide others for not following her example
It could also be easy to point fingers at the mom who does not have as many children as we feel she should.

To condemn the mom who schedules her baby or the mom who does not
We can't see inside someones heart, only the Lord can.
So I must ask, who are we to make judgments on other mothers and wives for simply having a difference of opinion? For one, it is not our business and two, the situation may be completely different then we can see. For example: I am not able to breastfeed. Not because I do not love my children but, my body is not able to produce enough milk.

However, I have been chided for not breastfeeding, by people who did not know the situation.

I think it is important to offer loving suggestions or if we are asked for advice but comparing and judging should never be.

Have you ever noticed a two year old building?
It takes them many tries to create a tower of blocks.

How easy is it for them to rip it down?

Well, for my two year old the latter is the simple one.
So it is in life..... it is so easy to stay in the tear down frame of mind

I am thinking 1st Thessalonians 5:11 applies very well here
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Imagine if every time we were tempted to gossip or tear down another person, instead we lifted them up to the Lord in prayer. I do think it is good to have strong feelings and be passionate about raising children, and being a wife. I think that a husband and wife should sit down, study the WORD and decide on the direction they want to go and follow it with all their hearts. What I am saying is that we can not try to force others to follow that same pattern and then condemn them when they do not. That will nullify any testimony and causes a hardening of our own hearts. This is something I purpose to work on very strongly over the next few weeks.
Keeping my chiding gossipy tongue in check and instead praying for those situations I see and welcoming with open arms instead of condemning.

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves,

you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."
Colossians 3:12

"Instead,

be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

Ephesians 4:32