Encourage and Build Up!

​NUGGETS OF 3-YEAR OLD WISDOM

This morning I had a moment with my son that challenged me. I have a challenging 3-year old many days, yes. But sometimes he amazes me by saying things that really challenge me in my faith. I think, “how could you know or understand that?!” I speak to him of biblical principles and spiritual concepts all day, but I often lack the faith to actually believe he will retain any of it. 

​He constantly reminds me that the Lord does hear our prayer. That the Lord does work in supernatural ways in the heart of man. But this morning he unknowingly challenged me in my understanding of Scripture.

I’ve been reading my bible in a new way over the past several months. I basically read through a book, chapter by chapter (some days I do 2 or 3... depends on the day and the content). The first time through the book I write down every Truth I come across. What does this chapter say is true about God? About me? About believers? About non-believers? What is true? This takes my focus off of what “feels” true and puts it on what “is” true. The second time through the book I write down any Instructions or Commands that are given for me to follow. This has been my practice. I would like to go back through the books I’ve completed a 3rd time and list Promises that are made.

​The past week I have been working through the book of Ephesians. Each day I try and take a truth or instruction and apply it. I think “How can I incorporate THIS particular Truth/Instruction into my day TODAY?” I have been reading about (particularly in Ephesians 4) how we are to speak the truth to one another in love. How we are to speak to each other in such a way that encourages and builds each other up.

So, this morning, when my 3-year old found himself angry in a situation that didn’t go his way, he spoke quite harshly to his dad. I heard him and addressed it. I explained that I understood he was angry, but there are better ways to handle our feelings, and speaking in an unloving, unkind way to others isn’t the way. He agreed that his speech was not kind or loving. I then explained how in the Bible, God tells us to speak to each other in such a way that encourages each other and builds each other up. We are to speak the truth in love.

​I then suggested, “How about you try that? Try saying something to daddy that encourages him and builds him up. Can you try that?”

​He then looked at his dad and said, “Well... Daddy... remember that God is always with us.”

“Yeah, Mann..." I said, "just like that.”

​I guess, in my humanness, when I read phrases like “encourage one another” and “build each other up,” I think of complimentary statements, or ego-boosting compliments. I tend to isolate those things from “speaking the truth in love.” The best way we can encourage each other and build each other up as the body is to remind each other of the truth. To remind each other of Who God is. To remind each other of His Promises to us. Not to compliment each other in a way that makes us feel good about ourselves.

Children can speak nonsense much of the time, it is true. But it always amazes me the profound nuggets of wisdom and spiritual insight that can come from their mouths. I disciple my child daily, but he always pushes me to examine my own heart and challenges my faith, I think, more often than I do him. Teach your kids, and take the time to listen, friends! You’ll often learn something!