Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26
Our kids are watching. And listening. Recently I’ve become more aware of how often our children listen to the adult conversations around them. At the kitchen table, in the car, or just about anywhere, their little ears tune in to what Mom and Dad are talking about, which begs the question, “What are they hearing?” More specifically, “What are they hearing us say about others?”
Gossip goes beyond productive conversation about others, and bridges into rumor or criticism about their personal lives. We follow a Savior who exhorts us toward loving others, extending the grace, kindness, and compassion of God. So our religion – or follow-ship of this Savior – will be revealed through the words that come from our mouths. According to our James 1 verse, the inability to control our words indicates an ineffective or unapplied faith.
Certainly one of our parenting goals is to help our children grow in their understanding of appropriate language – when to speak and how to speak with kindness toward others. We equally want to teach our kids how to apply what we read in God’s Word. There may be no more significant place to model Christ-like behavior than in the use of our words. Gossip tears down more than the character or reputation of others, it also tears down our kids’ ability to see people through the eyes of Christ.
In the coming week, let’s commit to listen to ourselves. What are we saying about others, and are those words full of life-giving acceptance, grace and encouragement? Our kids are certainly listening.
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