We planted two pumpkin seeds beside the our shed after our first attempts at gardening failed.
After awhile, two sprouts grew out of the ground. Then giant leaves appeared
JDaniel and I went to visit my sister Michelle’s family in Atlanta last week and when we came back the plants had started taking over the yard. My husband claims they tried to grab him as he drove past them on the riding mower.
I told JDaniel they are like Jack’s beanstalk. They seem to grow bigger and longer over night.
Our pastor Andy Lewis preached on the verses in James that speak about the tongue on Sunday. He challenged us to think about what we say and why we are saying it for a whole day this week. “Words grow,” he reminded us. “Words can take root in people’s hearts. They can change they way someone feels about you and they can make you wish they could be taken back.
His words hung in my heart when we left church on Sunday. I felt challenged about the words I say to my family and those I love.
My sister Kate who was down visiting last week (Yes, last week was filled with visiting with my sisters!) commented on how she hears my words come out of Jdaniel’s mouth.
In some ways that is a compliment. He speaks in complete sentences and uses lots of different kinds of words. In some ways it is a challenge. He is frustrated and demanding at times. He can try to order others around. I have heard him say, “ I need it right?” more than once.
JDaniel may be just what I need to monitor my words. He shares with me the words I have taught him while I speak with him and with others.
I want my words to grow and bear fruit. I do not want them to spread emotions and ways to interact with others that are not good to my son.
This post is linked to Mrs. Matlock’s Alphabe Thursday!
I am currently working on my next Mary Lee story. It will probably be posted at the end of the month.
Planting things is so fun for the kids =)
My children repeat what comes out of my mouth now so I have to be VERY careful. My husband tells me , my daughter sounds just like me already
Excellent reminder! Thank you!!!
Good luck with those pumpkins too!
I laughed at the part about your husband’s being “attacked” by the pumpkin plant. Great visual!
I know just what you mean about having a “wee parrot.” Baby Charleigh was fussing, yesterday, and Clementine looked at her and said: “SHHHH! Be quiet, Charleigh! You’re annoying me!” And I swear, she became my mini me in that instant. She, too, can be very bossy. I notice that she kisses a lot (probably to make up for the bossiness). That’s me, too.
Have a blessed day!
I think it is very difficult to hear your children parrot your words. It gives you pause. Sometimes I think we don’t give our words enough credit for the power they possess.
Great reminder!
We try to be very careful with how and what we say to our son. It doesn’t help that we are trying raise him multi-lingual so there is always that added challenge. I think that at this age it’s normal for them to speak our words back since it is the only thing they really now at the moment.
Hi! I totally agree! I remember what our pastor said once Sunday, he said, our children will be who the most important person in their life believe they are. Words do have power and we should use it to build up and encourage and never to tear down.
Btw, thanks for visiting my blog. Your words were encouraging 🙂
http://ayensdwellingplace.blogspot.com
reposting:
Hi! I totally agree! I remember what our pastor said one Sunday. He said, ‘Our children will be who the most important person in their life believe they are’. Words do have power and we should use it to build up and encourage and never to tear down.
Btw, thanks for visiting my blog. Your words were encouraging 🙂
http://ayensdwellingplace.blogspot.com
LOL on the pumpkin vine reaching out to grab.
It’s hard to remember to watch words 24/7. This is a good reminder.
A beautifully written {and heartfelt} reminder.
You are absolutely right about being careful about our words. I have been reminded of that a lot lately. Thank you for the great comparison.
And yay for your pumpkin plant!!
I love this! I so often hear what I say come out of my childrens mouths, even when just playing with each other, so it is a great reminder to watch what we say and how we say it!
So true. Not just about rapid growing pumpkin vines, but about the way our words are reflected in our children.
Good, and bad.
Really great post. Really.
Great post, and a good reminder for us all.
=)
Your pastor is a wise man. Makes you really think, doesn’t it? Words do take root in people’s hearts and especially in the hearts of our children.
wonderful post! thanks so much.
A wonderful post that truly makes one stop and think.
Thanks for the reminder. My son is only 5-mos-old, but I know he will understand what we say longer before he can repeat it. We should start watching what we say now. That’s why I’ve threatened my husband with a week-long visit at my mother’s if he ever listens to Howard Stern with the baby in the car!
Such a great reminder! Our words really do have such an impact!
Your post hits home…having 2 older children, I find that I converse with them on a different level, while my daughter who is 4 years younger tries to keep up. It’s always an eye opener to me when I hear her talking to her brothers, and it sounds like it is me! Urgh…this is something I am trying very hard to change!! Thanks for the reminder!! ;0)
LOL! So incredibly true!
It’s amazing what words and attitudes kids pick up! I remember well. :))
What a great P post. So very true. We need to watch out what we are saying all the time. :)))
I often hear myself reflected in my children’s voices. And many times, I don’t like what I hear. They are constant reminders to do better, try harder, be more patient.
I think about this a lot. I worry a lot about how my reactions and words will affect him. I can only do my best for my boys.
This is a lesson my parents taught us very early on. It’s all about respect…what you give out, you get back. Sadly, respect & manners seem to be a forgotten trait in today’s times.
I hope you have good results with the pumpkin. It was funny about your hubby. 😉
Thanks for sharing.
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Pages Of Love
So very true..thanks for the reminder.
This is such a great post! I not only have to remember my words, but also my tone of voice. Big T has said things to me where I didn’t like his tone. But I know he’s heard it from me. It’s a constant struggle to remember that we teach them words, but also tone of voice.
Sometimes I’ve heard my words coming out of my boys’ mouths and I’ve been proud. Other times ashamed. And it has really made me think.
Great post!
Your pastor’s words are really something to think about. My problem is that I often don’t say the right words–or any at all. I can be very introverted and get lost in my own thoughts. Perhaps I need to start speaking more about what’s on my heart.
That is so true. I hear my words coming out of my son too and in this way it has helped me keep what I say and do in check.
LOL I so understand how it is to have your child repeat your words back at just the wrong moment.
As long as you’re thinking about what you’re saying in front of your little guy you’ll do fine. I just know that your normal way of being with him is always with complete intent.
Those pumpkins have a mind of their own! LOL! Your hubby is funny. I can see them jumping out at him! Hee Hee Always a good post from a great friend.
Oh, your words must make such an impression, so I am sure that you need to be careful and always say positive things around him–and I’ll bet you do!
XO
Cindy
Oh yes, sometimes our own words come right back at us…and puts everything in perspective when a young one repeats them.
Looking forward to your posts later in the Fall when you harvest that huge pumpkin:o)
It’s amazing how words can bear positive or negative tones…great reminder.
Those pumpkins are going to take over I think…you just wait until October! 🙂
I feel the same way. The girls both repeat my words. That makes me stop and think about how I speak around and to them. Great reminder, thanks!
Yes, I’ve seen my own kids take on my words, good and not so choice. A great reminder to be mindful of!
My daughter teachers have commented many times how our daughter speaks so much like an adult. They also commented that she constructs the sentences like a German speaker. Even if she doesn’t speak German, she does learn a lot from her father 🙂
I agree, words can be like seeds and should be treated as such.
This is so true! My kids seem to repeat the words I don’t want them to more than the ones I do. It has certainly made me more careful about what I say over the years.
My watermelon is taking after your pumpkins. I feel like if I could stand to sit out in the heat all day I would be able to see it growing!
A great reminder. I have heard my words come out of my children’s mouths many times. Sometimes, this brings me pride when I hear them speaking to a younger child in a sweet tone saying “it’s okay sweetie” but when I hear them speak in an annoyed tone and say something like “you’ve got to be freaking kidding me”, I cringe and want to crawl under a table. Words have such power and I need to be more careful with mine. Thank you for the reminder.
That is so true! Thank you – I needed a reminder to watch what and how I use my words.
That’s a VERY good metaphor!
great post! i totally need to be better about what i say in front of my kids. they are little sponges that soak up so much!!
i’m following you from my new site now too. http://www.myskoop.com. hope you’ll stop by my new site and follow back! its a mom family fun review site! 🙂 thanks,hoLLy
Great reminder for us all. Thank you.
Thanks for the visit to my neck of the woods. So glad to have found you!
i’ve never thought more about the words i use until now… now that i’m a mom. it’s so important!
Extremely well written. And a wonderful reminder!
Thanks so much for the reminder! So thrilled about your pumpkins! Every year I plant some and have never gotten anything. I think I may be planting too late cuz mine look nothing like your beauties!
What a perfect visual – pumpkin vines that just grow and grOW and GROW! And, sometimes, we can trip over those vines (words) and they can tangle us trying to steal our grace! Love this!
“Words grow in people hearts” is a fine thing to remember. It’s so true and wise!
I agree words are powerful and like a good garden need to be tended to with loving care!
We used to grow giant pumpkins when I was a kid. Those pumpkin plants would get so big and invasive in the backyard, my mom used to laugh that she was afraid they would grow into her bedroom at night.
So much fun.
How fun it is that your pumpkin seeds have grown! I hope that JDaniel is excited about the pumpkins that will be growing soon 🙂
This post has such a great message 🙂 I notice that E has been saying a lot of things that I say to her all the time too. It’s so funny because whenever I want to trick her, she would repeat things that I’ve sad to her in the past, leaving me dumbfounded by her cleverness 🙂 Both my husband and I have agreed that we need to start being careful of what we say around her now!
This is such a thoughtful post.
It’s definitely a case of ‘as you sow’ with words in front of children, isn’t it?
Volunteer plants are always the best! Like a surprise present!
Thanks for linking.
A+
this was such a true and great post!
thanks for the reminder that we are planting seeds of learning everyday in even the small things
Great reminder. Your pastor’s metaphor made me pause as well. My son is just a baby, but we need to start watching what we say now. Anger and frustration are only a moment. The hurt from words said in those moments last forever. Thank you for this. I can see why this is a popular post.