Little Miss Chatterbox

Paul and I were laying in bed watching the Smiling Preacher, Joel Osteen. He gave a great sermon on not using words but rather living a life that speaks. It really impacted me on several levels. As a christian, I feel like talking and judging is so prevelant. I met a homosexual man once who said he dreaded christians picketing at his funeral. His partner had died and the outside was filled with hateful christians. It really bothered me because it made my friend dread Jesus and in his deepest pain he was cut down more. Sure we can disagree on his lifestyle, but I think they missed an opportunity to love. Why not cook a meal, pray with them, cry with them? Someone died. So in all those hate filled words and signs christians spoke volumes. It would be hard for me to talk to a christian or walk into a church after that.
As a parent it really hits home. I am the BEST lecturer eva!! I give a lecture for gratitude, grades, college, attitude. I've been talking and talking so much with the kids that I know I sound just like Charlie Brown's teacher....WAWAWAWAMWAMMWEWW. So I was talking to our family counselor about this and he said all the talking was stripping away my authority. I'm explaining and to the kids it gives the underlying message that I am unsure of my decisions. I was floored. He's right though. How many Presidents of companies explain to their employees every choice they make? Never because they "THE BOSS."
With friends and people I love, I remembering to show it more. Not in the words but in the way I act toward them. As everyone is I am very busy. But the busyness can become the ultimate twist of truth. Sometimes stopping what I am doing for someone else is speaking the love I feel for them deep down inside. I would it when I die if people were clueless about all the deep things I have in my heart for them. I don't want, "Busy", "Driven," "Cold," and "Distant," were written on my tombstone. I want to be known and for people to see a difference in me and the way they I treated them.
So I am trying to begin in little ways talking less and speaking louder through actions. With strangers, being kind and friendly. Making the effort to give people breaks and express gratitude. With my kids, getting them involved in charity so that they can learn gratitutde by feeding those than have less. With one friend that I have not made the effort for, driving to see her new house. Making the time for her. And with my husband looking him in the eye and hugging him and putting the kids to bed early for alone time just with him. In the world making the effort to do my part to make the changes in the world.