Hold that Thought!
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19
Whoa! This is a tough one where mothering is concerned. The kids will create messes that need to be cleaned, pierce our hearts with their criticism, and make choices in life that appear crazy at best and self-destructive at worst.
Yet, we are invited to first listen to them, be slow to offer our input or opinion and even slower in our anger (a.k.a. judgement) of what we hear.
First, we love. We open our hearts to the unique beauty of this person we’ve co-created with God, love them for who they are, and do not condemn them for not being who we thought they should be. When we love them for who they are, God’s grace can enter in and transform (where needed) what they are.