I ended the last Monday’s post with Mom lacing up her combat boots and entering the fray of every day life with the armor intact and a generous covering of prayer.  I’m ending the fast from negativity on that positive note.

“Look carefully then how you walk!  Live purposely and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
Making the most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.”  Ephesians 5: 15-17

Pray the prayers in Ephesians.  Pray positive prayers for your children and don’t negate your prayers like I sometimes do.  It’s easy  to form the habit of  positive prayer and then nullify with negativity by rehearsing in the mind or aloud:

He left all his clothes on the floor again!
He’ll never listen.
He’ll always struggle with ________.

Accentuate the positive.  Find something to praise in the child and then thank God for that while you wait for progress in other areas.  Pray with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-8).

Some awesome events have taken place during my November fast from negativity.  Here’s just a few:

Ania and Hunter saved $77.00 in change for Feeding the Orphans
Rafal hugs me every morning.  He loaded the dishes for his ‘do over’ without complaining
Damian rescued Hunter when he had a flat tire, buying the tire and having it put on while Hunter worked his shift at Panera
Gregory helped a single mom pay for groceries and an elderly lady who was 15 dollars short (He works at Shop-n-Save)
Ania is my kitchen-craft-organization-walking-talking-buddy
Audrey is my Christmas-elf, writing cheerleader, daughter-friend
Amerey is a merry heart is good medicine, she makes my heart merry and shares my heart for orphans, volunteering for Feeding the Orphans