At the zoo the other day, a mom desperately tried to catch her son who had disappeared behind a building. Everyone standing by the giraffe exhibit witnessed this catch-me-if-you-can game. The boy laughed hysterically while running from his mom who grew angrier by the minute. When our eyes met the woman shrugged her shoulders and said, “He thinks he’s funny when he’s not. He gets it from his daddy.” I never saw her again, but her words have yet to leave my mind,
He gets it from his daddy.
Sometimes at home, if the children are doing something annoying that Jason also does, I’ll look at him and say, “I wonder whose side they get that from.” Same is true when talking about Jason; I use phrases such as, “He gets it from his daddy,” to point out a negative about my husband (and my child). I don’t intend for my words to make fun of Jason or be critical of him, but that is exactly what I’m doing.
Our words set the stage.
I can use my words to set the stage to recognize my husband’s faults and failures or his strengths and successes. Can my children readily identify their daddy’s talents and contributions or do they only know which weaknesses they get from him? I want them to know their strengths — his strengths! When my children do something sweet, selfless, or above par, I want them to know they get that from their daddy.
I want to use my words to set the stage to make my husband the hero of our home.
On Father’s Day, I surprised my husband by dressing the children and myself in matching t-shirts which declared him as our hero. And he is. Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder if my words to him and others always communicate the same message? Often time using my children, I can make a light-hearted joke or take a passive aggressive stab. I need to be in better control of my tongue so that phrases such as, “He gets it from his daddy,” will be a springboard into praise, not criticism.
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. ~Proverbs 21:23
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. ~James 1:26
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! ~Psalm 141:3
Do you ever criticize your husband through highlighting the faults of others?
darby dugger
What People are Saying