Freedom for Angry Moms: 5 Days of Biblical EncouragementНамуна

consistent praise

One of my favorite salad dressings is oil and vinegar. If you’ve ever combined these two together, you know that if you let it sit long enough, the solution separates and requires a good shaking to blend them. Similarly, two things that don’t easily combine are anger and gratitude.

It feels uncomfortable to think about my body language when I’m angry versus when I’m feeling thankful. If I put my hands on my hips and grit my teeth, but then consider something that I’m deeply thankful for, it’s hard to keep my posture tense. Like that tasty salad topper, anger and gratitude simply don’t blend well, do they?

For many of us, our knee-jerk reaction when triggered is anger. The feelings of frustration overpower us when we don’t tap into the power of the Holy Spirit. I have seen God work radically to exchange angry reactions with gentle responses in my own life and in the lives of thousands of other parents through practical approaches to our triggers, but one of the most transformative blessings comes when we stop trying to fix our kids—and fix our hearts on the worthiness of praising the Lord. This is true especially when our kids leave the refrigerator door open again or do a hasty, unsatisfactory job mowing the lawn. The best time to address them is after thanking God for them. Gratitude and praise create ideal conditions for loving correction.

Becoming a mom who practices daily gratitude has been one of the quickest paths toward transformation. When I consider this passage from Psalm 34, the psalmist’s enthusiasm is unrestrained. When we are effusive with our praise, our triggered hearts are easily diffused. May we, too, “praise the Lord at all times” and in our “helpless” state begin to “tell of the Lord’s greatness.” Anger and adoration don’t mix. For that, I’m thankful.

Lord, I want to be known for my thankful heart. I even want my kids to be able to say this about me. Please help me recall my blessings every day. Give me self-control to work on the way I think—to be less exasperated and more thankful. God, thank You for showering me with blessings and instructing my heart. Thank You for all the gifts You give that I often forget about. I love You! In Jesus’ name, amen.

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

It’s easy to thank God for the good things that are obvious. Be sure to do that! But today, consider the hard things that in their own way, have also been a blessing. Tape a piece of paper to the wall where your family shares meals. Each day for the next week, ask your kids about something they are thankful for and keep a running list. Be sure to include your own responses and center them around your children or role as a mom.