A few months before leaving for Uganda, I heard something from Bethel Church about four phrases they teach to their youngest children’s classes to begin sealing truth
on their little minds and hearts early. The phrases are:
God is good, nothing is impossible, Jesus already won, and
everyone is important.
Immediately, I wrote them down, knowing that one day I would want to teach them to
my children. Little did I know at the time, however, that these words (and the ones
that followed them) would turn into a lifeline, not just for my children, but for
me.
The struggle to keep lies out of my head has been lifelong. I can remember lying in
bed as young as 4 and 5 years old and trying to shut out lies: you’re not safe,
people don’t like you, you’re a bad friend, tomorrow will be a bad day. Somehow,
over the years, I learned to repeat truth to myself over and over and prevent what I
assume could have turned into truly crippling fear.
Enter this adoption. As a single woman. In a country where fear has
captured generations. Of two children who knew fear intimately.
As much as the desire of my heart is to show my children that I am safe, my
own fears and the very reality that nothing about life is really safe led me to
realize that the only way to truly make my children feel safe was to introduce them
to Safety….Himself. Not necessarily a promise of physical safety,
but of an intimate relationship with a God who guards hearts and minds.
And so it came about that at night, before bed and long before their English allowed
them to understand the words, we recited those four little phrases above. As new
fears surfaced in them and in me, we added new phrases, eventually landing on nine
phrases that seemed to answer every lie that surfaced during the day. It is amazing
how quickly the girls took ownership of “our true words“, as they call them
now. Just yesterday, one of them was struggling under lies and said, “Mama, can
you please help me say some true words?”
Then last week, in the car, I made an error in judgement that resulted in something
breaking. The value was small, but it shaded my attitude about the day. Wondering
how much our true words were really taking practical effect in the girls hearts, I
said, “Girls, I made a mistake just now, and I’m really feeling bad about it. It
feels like the whole day is ruined because of the thing I broke. What true things
can you tell me to help me get my heart back on track?” Immediately from the
back seat came,
“Mama, don’t worry. Even grown-ups make mistakes sometimes. That thing was not
so important. You can get a new one.”
I read (in this amazing book) that the most valuable gift a parent can
give their child is the ability to return to joy from any negative emotion. If
nothing else, these true words are giving them that gift. They are learning to
recognize lies and speak truth to themselves and the people around them at such an
early age and I am reaping the benefits. My 6 year old can look me in the eyes and
say, “Mommy, I was wrong. I know that everyone is important,
but I did not treat you like you were important. Will you forgive me?”
So many friends have asked me to put the true words up here so they can begin using
them with their own kids, so here they are….finally. Click on the picture below to
access the PDF download.
And in case you’re wondering where these words come from:
- God is good (Psalm 100:5)
- Nothing is imposible (Luke 1:37)
- Jesus Already Won (Philippians 3:12)
- Everyone is important (Psalm 139:14)
- My mommy and daddy love me (Isaiah 49:15)
- Tomorrow will be a good day (Lamentations 3:23)
- I am God’s treasure (Malachi 3:17)
- I am the one Jesus loves (1
John 4:19, John 3:16) - Our family is the best (well, that one isn’t Biblical, but we say it anyway)
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Mandie Joy is a foster parent and mama of two beautiful little girls newly home from Africa. She blogs at www.seeingjoy.com.