The poem ‘Children Learn What They Live’ by Dorothy Law Nolte does not only apply to children!
‘If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.’
By encouraging and affirming people and giving them the freedom to be themselves, we allow them the freedom to grow into the people God wants them to be. All relationships take time and effort and are rather like bank accounts! We need to make sure we invest positive words and caring actions into people, for there will always be times, sadly, when we end up making withdrawals from their lives through our unkindness and lack of love. We need to admit to our faults and ask for forgiveness when this happens, so that we build people up rather than becoming stumbling-blocks on their way to spiritual maturity.