Applied Reading

Yesterday I linked to a Bible verse. Mm hmm, I did. And guess what? It helped me. Lately I've been using the Bible like a inspirational/encouragement quote book and sometimes it works well and other times I forget what I read. However, yesterday at the most trying parts of the day when I wanted to get frustrated and raise my voice and just sort of lose it this is what popped into my head, "be compassionate." It just so happened that Rose would get really fussy right when I was feeling a tad overwhelmed and I'd want to just give everyone a time out right there, but I picked her up and held her and took a deep breath and released it slowly and remembered that I am a mother. Not just any mother, but hers. And the mother she needs is kind, gentle and compassionate (which is, coincidentally, how I want to be). The mother I want to be is loving, caring, considerate. I am not always those things. Sometimes I am cranky, frustrated, short tempered. Sometimes I am quick to hush the loud boisterous laughter, to get upset over the many, many interruptions while I'm doing very (un)important things.

photo unrelated, but it rained this morning!

The past couple of weeks I've had two verses that have struck me hard. I try to think about them often, especially in the morning and then during the trying points of my day. It's sort of like a meditation? I don't know. I just know I like reading these two verses.

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 (nkjv)

 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 (niv)

 Oh, and two other quotes that I like reading

Be the change you want to see in the world. Mahatma Gandhi

(I'm just going with "be the change I want to see in myself" right now)
And something to tell my children:

You is kind. You is smart. You is important. Aibileen Clark in The Help

  Do you have any quotes that you love? Care to share?