A lot of times when I become burdened and convicted about a situation I get my journal and my Bible. With an open heart and oftentimes with tears, I write out my thoughts and feelings. It’s an encouragement to my soul to look back and see how the Lord was working in my heart at a particular time. The following is a journal entry from February 4, 2004 (2 years ago!) Apparently it was after “one of those” times when I got tired out and was “witchy woman” by the end of the day!
I need to be more loving to my children.
Pr. 21:19 “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman”.
Pr. 21:23 “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his souls from troubles”. (I have no right to talk meanly and loud to my children-when I ‘go off’ my soul becomes troubled. It’s true, I can feel it, it’s a feeling of discontent, no peace, my insides become as nasty as my words and tone. If I have concern with my soul, maybe part of the problem is my mouth and tongue.)
Pr. 16:20 “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he” (These situations I find myself in as a mother are all possiblilites and opportunities to demonstrate to the children godly behavior. When I let myself become guided by emotions or physical needs and my flesh, I am wasting an opportunity to teach my children. Can’t I trust God to show me the right way to behave? I’m not happy if I trust in myself.)
Pr. 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Am I having a rough time? Are the children having a rough time? Maybe we all need the medicine of a Happy Heart. Can’t we laugh and play together? Play a game, color, read, watch a video, cook something? A lot of times I give my child something to do just so I can be free to do my own thing. Maybe the children get aggravating because I haven’t slowed down enough in the past day or two to actually spend good, loving, quality time with them.”) FOCUS
Pray: That I will be slow to anger, that I can rule my spirit, have a merry heart, handle situations wisely, and that I will “keep” my tongue and mouth.
Good to be Home 
I love knowing that I am reading something you dug out of a journal. Thanks for sharing!
The line about giving the kids somehting to do so that you can do your own thing was convicting!
Love, JO
I miss you! I am still here and will email soon. I was out all morning. Wanted to tell you again how happy I am that you are blogging! Are your parents going to sign up so that they can leave you comments? It would be cool for the rest of us b/c you have such a special relationship with them!
Yes, looking back at journal entries usually gives a sense of where we have come from, and hopefully we can see progress. God is Good! Thank you for sharing the verses too, as although I am a married man and not a woman with children, God’s word — eg. Proverbs verses you listed — still applies so much to what I struggle with. And that “Prayer” section is a good goal and request to our Lord.
What a great picture. Wow. I know you will cherish them forever.
So, this is what you were recommending to me. I love the fact that you are so open and willing to be an ecouragement to others. I have started my journal and I love it. Thanks. I am reading through some other parts of your blog, hope you don’t mind.-Tara