More than the Golden Rule

The K's and I are memorizing scriptures for each verse of the alphabet, at a very slow pace.
Some of them are familiar when talking about how to treat each other...one of them being, "Be kind to one another and build each other up." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

We say this all the time...

Someone steals a toy right out of another's hand in mid play....
Be Kind to one another.

Someone sneaks a fruit snack from another's bowl while they aren't looking...
Be Kind to one another.

Someone looses control and says something not very nice...
Be Kind to one another. (sometimes the someone is mommy)

After focusing on letter B a few weeks ago, we saw the rest of the verse...and build each other up.

It's adorable to hear the things that a 7 and 4 year old say to "build each other up."

"You're a good builder."

"You're a good cleaner."

"I like it when you do ballet."

"You're very smart for a one year old."  

(actual words from the kids)

Throughout my normal day I often feel like I have to correct and redirect the majority of the time.  God has been reminding me about the "build each other up" part recently.  Doesn't it feel good when you are encouraged?  

For Valentine's Handsome K and I wrote dozens of compliments/encouragements on little hearts for the kids.  Simple things.  Easy to do.  

You should have seen the smiles and how they wanted to read them as fast as they could.  God is right it matters when we encourage one another.

I sat down this morning with a magazine I gifted myself, popular one we women know.  This month's Q&A was..."What is the greatest compliment you've ever received?"  

Yep a grown-up magazine allotted two pages for readers to submit the most encouraging thing they've ever been told.  Comments ranged from what a teachers, bosses, children and strangers have said to others.  Some of the memories decades old.

What am I saying to my kids?

What am I saying to strangers and friends?

Even the world notices what God has been telling us.  This compelled me to write.  So today, I want to "Be kind to one another and build each other up."  

My husband.

My kids.

Strangers.

God's ideas are the best.