April 22, 2009 > No Comments
Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Preferring one another…What exactly does that mean? A quick look in the dictionary gave me this:
Regarding above others; advancing to a higher station; offering; presenting.
Before I looked it up I asked each one of our children what this meant. Prefer one another? My 12 year old down to my 7 year olds had no problem defining this concept and each gave me examples of how to practice this.
We have been noticing that our children seem to be forgetting that real J-O-Y comes when we put Jesus & Others before ourselves (You ). They’ve been a little too concerned with what they wanted, when they wanted it. This has made for a not so happy house lately and we’ve both been praying about ways to remedy this tendency that I must admit plagues even me at times. 
I have started to orchestrate their play and watch for attitude problems and to stay on top of, rather than get overwhelmed by training and/or disciplining issues. Too often I let things go (attitudes especially) in hopes of dealing with it later and we all know what can happen when we put things off…it never gets accomplished.
I had become unaware at how this sin of selfishness had taken root until this last week. None of them have been horrid or anything, don’t imagine the worst. (o.k. one child was horrid 
)But for our children we knew that something was going wrong.
In an attempt to kick this little green monster out we told them that the very next time any one of them came into money (after tithe & savings) they were to buy something for one of their siblings. Oddly enough they ALL got money in the mail that day!? Thank you Lord!
They drew names and started getting excited about what they were going to buy. Then today we all loaded up for a trip to our local $1 store. Everyone split up, secretly made their choices, and checked out. I was thrilled to see how excited they were to be picking the “perfect” gift for their brother or sister.
We headed back home for an impromptu party!
After a nice meal, it was time to exchange gifts. We suggested that each child had to say something nice to their brother or sister while giving their gifts, and thankfully it WAS nice things! LoL You never know with a 12 yr old boy what he’ll say “nice” to his sister… “You’re not as ugly as you used to be.” Nah, he wouldn’t say that, but he IS a 12 yr old boy! J
Then we played a game of Pictionary. The topic was “Our Life” and you had to draw a person, place, thing or event. Some of our art work consisted of Noah breaking his arm, a trip to Dollywood years ago, Legos, Susannah’s birthing center…
All in all it was a great night, and while we’re not through with our positive reinforcement it was a great start!
Works for Me Wednesday @ We Are THAT Family
Family Friday @ Homemaker Barbi
Comments
April 22nd, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
What a good post! My children tend to forget the order of priorities as well. We have really been talking and using bible lessons to talk about our attitudes and how they affect others and ourselves as well.
The neat story about J O Y though..HOw I was named..to make a long story short here. My grandfather is a preacher has been for years(I am 29) and he also was an electrician and farmer by trade. He and my father raised pigs while I was small and before I was born. They used to make their own feed, one day when he was making feed he got his shirt caught in the auger on the tractor which he couldn’t get loose and ended up ripping his right arm almost totally off. He had to go the the hospital this was a couple months before I was born. He was in the hospital for a long time because it tore everything bone and muscle! Anyway my aunt was due with her baby 3 weeks before my mom was due with me. When my aunt went to the hospital to have her baby everything was good and fine..then the baby was still born. This was just three weeks before I was born. The family had seen some hard times in a few short weeks. Then my mom went in to have me she was going to name me Jessica..and my grandfather asked if he could name me my mom obliged. So he chose Joy…because he said they had had so much heartache and I was a Joy and that we should always remember..Jesus First, others Second and yourself last.
I love it when others know and talk about this same Joy..Joy unspeakable and full of mercy!
Sorry to be so lengthy..you probably didn’t even won’t or care about my story it just hit me to post it when I read your post! Have a great day in the Lord
Joy
April 22nd, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
Great post!
April 22nd, 2009 @ 2:02 pm
Joy, Wow! I can see why your name was so special to your grandfather! I *always* love to hear stories of people’s names. It means so much more than just “I liked the name”
I’m sure J-O-Y has an extra special meaning to you and your family. Thank you for sharing! BTW, did your grandfather have a full recovery? I knew a girl in elementary school that got her looooong hair caught in an auger and it snapped her neck and she died instantly. It was certainly an upsetting thing…PTL your grandfather lived to tell about it Amen?! God bless you!
April 22nd, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
I too, have been noticing some disturbing attitudes floating around here. Jack has become extremely explosive with his anger and he is terribly impatient. Lillie has that horrid spirit of ingratitude. I have read and looked and studied on ways to remedy it…but you just solved it for me. Just start. I’ve spent valuable time beating my head against the wall trying to figure out what is the best thing to “try” that I’ve not spent any time DOING anything about it. It’s so easy to get caught up in opinions on how to handle these things…books upon books have been written. But they are no substitiute for THE BOOK and a close prayerful walk with Jesus. Have a great day!
April 22nd, 2009 @ 5:12 pm
Love this idea!! Hope you don’t mind if I steal it some time!!