Watch Your Attitude!

Anger outburst, tantrums thrown, words spewing out of the mouth!  You can’t believe what is happening.  What an attitude! 

Before you know it, no one is looking at the other and in the heat of the moment, things get from bad to ugly.  

Now you are thinking, “I can imagine this in my household with my son or daughter.”  Well, guess again.  I wasn’t referring to any of our kids doing these things. Take a good look in the mirror and who do you see? 

These attitudes were coming from parents.  Let’s face it, parents have breaking points too.  Not only do you have one member of the family falling apart, you now have two or more.  

So what is bringing this on?  

Let’s start with the obvious.  Our world is in chaos.  I don’t mean a little.  It’s BIG TIME!  So many opinions, ideals, agendas, fears, in-family fighting, job losses, peer pressure, political arguments, divisive conversations, and more. I haven’t even mentioned the bills piling up, the physical and mental tolls it is taking, a kid in crisis, and of course, the unknown of what is ahead. 

With that much pressure, it is just a matter of time before someone blows a gasket.  

We, as parents, have an opportunity to be an example to our kids when things get tough. Even when our child is in crisis, no matter the age they are, they are still looking to us as parents to be the glue that holds things together.  Unfortunately, daily woes and life’s pressures get to parents and without even realizing it half the time, our attitudes stink, get nasty, and honestly, just plain negative.  

How in the world can we be a light, comfort, and peacemaker to our broken and hurting child if all we have are attitude meltdowns every time we have a bad day?  Simple answer is we can’t. 

Keeping our attitude positive and calm is extremely hard to do BUT not impossible.  One of the pivotal ways which has helped my attitude are the following:

• Put on energetic, fun, spirit-lifting and God honoring music
• Read and memorize a scripture each day on having a good attitude (also on peace)
• Call a friend for encouragement and prayer
• Pray for someone else who is is desperate need or hurting in a more difficult situation
• Count your blessings one by one. Start each day being thankful for something in your life

This is not a perfect antidote but it certainly will help our attitudes be in a better place.  More than anything, ask God to infiltrate your heart with a good attitude in all things.  He will do this in your heart when you ask to receive.  

To get you started, here are some great scriptures to read and memorize.  

Colossians 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Philippians 3:15 – Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well

Photo by Andrey Haimin on Unsplash