But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and
filthy language from your lips. Colossians 3:8
Absolutely loved hearing our youth pastor preach on this passage this morning. He pointed out that filthy language doesn't have to mean just cursing. He talked about a parent calling their child a liar and how that's filthy language. And it is! They are a child of God who told a lie! They walk around with these awful labels given to them by the very people who love them the most, as well as ones put on them by friends, teachers, and the media! I am totally guilty of calling my kids things that I shouldn't. I loved this reminder today. I have heard people call their children liars, from 5-18 years old, and it is SO sad. (I tend to call mine other things, like lazy.
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Be careful what you label your kids. Call them out on their sin and keep reminding them that God made them for a purpose and DEARLY loves them. We don't deserve the grace of God, and that's what makes it GRACE. It's really okay if your kids aren't perfect. They will sin. It's not our job to use shame and punishment to force them to not sin. Our job is to point them to the grace of Jesus when they DO sin. Every single time.