This morning I decided to read the verse in James that is actually often times referenced as a turning point for those who decide to adopt.
James 1:27
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
I usually try to read a verse in context so I decided to read the previous verse since in my Bible it seems that verse 26 and 27 are a paragraph together.
James 1:26
If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
OUCH! and OUCH again! Verse 27 convicted me of one thing and then verse 26 something else. I can't address the issue of orphans immediately in a direct way but I can do something about my tongue.
This week I read an article written by Kay Warren where she says "Not everyone should adopt, but more should than do. Every family should at least ask the question, “God, do you want our family to foster or adopt a child?” How do you know the answer unless you’ve asked the question?"
Have I honestly asked that question of my family? Have I honestly asked God this question or am I scared of the answer? Let me assure you that we have asked that question and we feel like we are getting a pretty clear answer from God...but I will post more about that journey later.
After I read this then I read verse 26 I am shocked. My tongue is a barometer to my religion. Is my faith geniune, how am I speaking to my children, my husband and my friends? Am catty and cutting in my responses? Are my words soft and tender or harsh?
We have been teaching our children about "soft words" the last few weeks. We have been focusing on this verse from Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
How often in my life do I make the choice to use harsh words with no care of the result? When if I would chose gentle/soft words then the result would be calm and not anger?
