Selfishness.

Sometimes the selfishness of my kids at school is bothering. Frankly, annoying. (A child's selfishness more clearly manifests itself than an adult's- in most cases.) Because I am being selfish and I want them to stop being selfish so the room can just be at peace. After a long day or week, my patience quotient is way lower than it should be, and repeating the same things over and over is draining.

But you know what? They need it. They need me to repeat it. They need me to model it. I am the one that is supposed to teach them how to act. Me. 

I don't want to be a teacher that barks out requests and speaks with an annoyed tone. I want to lovingly guide and model. 

2 Timothy 3:16- All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Someone shared that verse in a parent meeting the other day, and it's a good reminder. I want to speak Scripture to my kids (so grateful to teach at a Christian school!). I want to rebuke and train for righteousness- not because I want their behavior to stop or change, but because I am teaching them how to be a CHRIST FOLLOWER and GOSPEL SPREADER. "Showing love to our friends" is a huge phrase in our room. 

Is hitting your friend showing love?

You just shared your toy- that was showing love to your friend! 

Etc. etc.

Sometimes it's so frustrating to talk about how hitting hurts our friends and is not showing love OVER and OVER again. I wish I could have some magic fairy dust to sprinkle over them to talk about hitting ONE time and poof!- it's magically cured and no one will ever hit again.

I don't have any magic fairy dust. But what do I have? The Bible- the words God breathed and He's given me to teach with. 

And how hypocritical is it of me when I am just as selfish? Granted, people grow up and learn that you can't hit people whenever they do something you don't like. But that doesn't mean that our selfishness is any less. It's a daily battle to die to self and put away selfishness- to truly think of others as better than yourself and to think of them first.

How many times have I trained my kids about hitting? So many I can't even count. How many times has Jesus whispered "lean on me" or "come to me" and I keep looking elsewhere? Shamefully, also so many I can't even count. 

I like reading Proverbs because it's clear cut and direct.

Proverbs 19:11- A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 16:32- Patience is better than strength. Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.

Proverbs 14:29- A patient man has good understanding, but a quick tempered man displays folly.

pa·tience  

/ˈpāSHəns/

Noun The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

Synonyms forbearance - endurance - sufferance - solitaire

I pray that God would help me capture my own selfishness, so I can be slow to anger, gracious, compassionate, and abounding in love to my kids (Psalm 103:8). Just like Jesus is with me. Over and over again.

This picture is one of my favorites. I don't know these children, but I pinned it awhile back on Pinterest. I love the way this child is praising with abandon and authenticity. I want to teach my kids to praise like that.

Patience is a virtue.

One I need more of.

Less selfishness. More patience.