40 Day Clutter Challenge – Under Beds – Speak Kindly
Welcome to day 34 of the 40 Day Clutter Challenge.
We are coming near the end of Lent and I am more than ready to welcome the beauty of Spring in my home. Today we are back in the bedroom and are scrambling under the beds to find clutter and perhaps and item or two of treasure that needed to be discovered and loved again. Today we are also going to take a moment and chat about speaking kindly to one another, especially at home. Home is where peace begins and that is why we started the 40 Day Clutter Challenge, to begin with. Clutter sometimes can go hand and hand with troubled waters. As we clear the clear we are more mindful of our daily tasks and how we interact with our family because we want our neat piles to stay neat!
Speak Kindly
This is the best time to remember the practice of kindness in our words and body language. We all have our moments, much like the photo below. This little guy is clearly not having a good moment. His body language is clear and his voice is probably at a pretty decent volume. As parents, we want to mend these things and we have the years of experience to soothe and speak with our kids to bring them down from their heightened feelings.
But when adults speak harshly, there is not a mommy or daddy around to soothe and calm. We have to be our own calm in the storm, especially when we are the cause of the storm and the recipient is our spouse.
I have learned over the years that the only way to remain calm and kind is to practice on the good days and be extra mindful of my tongue on the bad days. When I do slip and lose it I readily apologize to my sons and my husband. I own up to my mistakes or at least I try to own up to the best of my ability. I forgive myself because no one in this life is perfect.
I have to forgive my loved ones and they need to be open to forgiving to me. Thank goodness I am forgiven freely and compassionately by the big Guy upstairs because his teaching were truly my guidelines as a youth and now an adult to be kind to my family and to folks I meet on the street no matter the circumstance.
How do you mind your words with your family?
For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.
Audrey Hepburn
TOMORROW – Purses, Backpacks and Luggage
