Sunshine

Psalms 113:9  "He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD."

Plants definitely need sunshine to grow properly. We have talked about things we need to plant, weeds that need to be pulled and how a garden needs to be watered. We need to remember that pulling weeds is good but with out sunshine a garden will not bare fruit. Sometimes we are in such a worry to train perfect children that we don’t have a perfect balance. Always having “thou shalt not” and never having smiles of acceptance is detrimental to anyone. You should be your child’s sunshine. I have a little boy that I call “my sunshine.” Every time I see his face, even from the time he was a baby, it has shone. It is almost always beaming with a smile. He has such a sweet countenance.

Some people are worried that disciplining a child will break the spirit of the child. This is not true. If you are disciplining a child properly then you will be breaking the self will of a child. If you are a grouch and yelling at your children then you are breaking the spirit of the child, which is something you don’t want to do.

Proverbs 15:13 "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken."

Training a child properly will make a happy child. Have you ever seen a child throwing a tantrum? I have and thought "I wish that mother would discipline that child so that he can be happy." It is a relief to a child. They then understand what is expected of them. My same child that I was telling you about being a sunbeam can put a smile on his face in some of the hardest times. It automatically changes his spirit. Next thing you know he will be laughing and the rest of us with him. Be cause….

Smiles are contagious 

After a time of discipline is a good time to encourage your child that they can do better with a gentle smile of I love you. It is good to help a child get over being upset after being disciplined.

Sometimes it is not easy to be so joyful, but if you find that you are not smiling often, then you may have become unthankful and discontent and these are sins that you will need to get out of your life. Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes you maybe sick. Don't forget about those around you even in these times. I know that if you help them with a smile, they will help you to smile during those hard times. Remember “for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Proverbs 17:22  "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

You need to plant a smile on your face and let it be there most of the time, so that you can then plant one on their face. Enjoy your children that God has blessed you with. Be a mother that is fun. Play with your children. Dance with your children. Sing to your children. Praise the Lord with your children. Giggle together. Be joyful together. It  is not only good for the soul but also good for your health.