Monday, December 3, 2018

Prayer Prompt #49: Are You a Coach or an Umpire?

Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

Sometimes I discipline my child like I’m his umpire: “Strike three, you are OUT!”  Such discipline is divisive: it’s mom vs. child.

But a family is a team, so we ought to work together, not against one another, for everyone’s benefit.  Instead of umpire, I ought to be my child’s coach and work with him to overcome any weaknesses.

Dear LORD, it’s too easy to fall into a pattern of being an umpire of my child instead of a coach.  Help me establish patterns of behavior and speech that communicate to my child that I am on his team, that I am for him and not against him. Give me words that encourage and help him, not condemn him with parental anger. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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