January 17
Scripture: Psa 119:28
Source author: Jeanette Gardner Littleton
January 17
ABCs of Love I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word. —Psalm 119:28
Gardner, come to dinner. Now!” My thirteen-year-old son sniffled in the other room. He was having a bad night. He’d been furious with his little sister, he’d spoken inappropriately with me, and he’d gotten a rebuke from his father. “Was I really that mean, Elizabeth?” he quietly asked his sister as he shuffled to the table, his head down. I could tell he felt terrible for the way he’d acted. After the occasional anger episode like this, Gardner tended to beat himself up emotionally. “Alphabet for Gardner!” I called as we filled our tortillas with taco ingredients. I’d started doing the game a few days earlier for my daughter and husband. I’d systematically go through the alphabet, for each letter naming a word that described the person. “A is for adorable,” I said. “Gardner is such a cutie!” “B—brave,” his sister announced. “Gardner is a brave person.” “C is for creative,” my husband added. And on we went. Once in a while Gardner would throw in a
negative word, but we clearly overrode him—no negative traits allowed; only good ones.
Just as God encourages us with His Word, we can encourage others with our words. — Jeanette Gardner Littleton —