Every morning, I read several things during my quiet time. One of my favorites is from my Bible app on my phone. It is a reading plan on parenting. Each day, I learn something from God's Word that truly imparts wisdom on the subject of parenting. Today's, however, hit me square between the eyes.

Here is the verse that went with the devotional.
"Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut." (Proverbs 10:19 NLT)

The gist of the devotional was choosing your words wisely as you speak to your children and as you discipline them. How many times have I asked Will to choose his words? LOTS! Have many times have I asked myself the same question? Not as many.

The writer was in no way implying that a parent not talk to their children during discipline, but rather being careful not to talk so much that you begin to sound like the unseen parent/teacher on episodes of Charlie Brown. Yeah...you know what I'm talking about!

I want to do better! I can get high on my parental soapbox waxing eloquently on the crimes my sweet child as committed, but is he getting it? Does he really understand what Mom is trying to say? Maybe...maybe not. I imagine many times he tunes me out and only hears "wha, wha, wha, wha..." (I guess that's how you spell it.)

Maybe I need to consider the psalmist when he said, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14 NLT). Yeah...I think that verse applies to everything...even when I am getting onto Will.

Is it going to be easy? I think not. Talking is much easier than truly applying consequences to his actions. It's over in just a minute...yep, and it's forgotten as quickly.

Lord, help me to be creative with disciplining Will. Help me to talk less and teach more through discipline that is applicable to the action. Help my words be acceptable to You all of the time.