If Anything is Praiseworthy...

"...if anything is praiseworthy.....thing on such things."  Philippians 4:8

Praiseworthy: a commendable thing

Several years ago I was convicted about my love for money. You see, I didn't think it was possible to love money if you didn't have any - and I never did. But God showed me that the amount of time I spent thinking about it and worrying about it showed how much I valued it....with or without having any. Does that make sense?

I was thinking about that today, as I thought about valuing things that are praiseworthy. If I really value things that are praiseworthy, I will be looking for them - rather than looking for things to criticize, right? But if I think through my average day, I'm definitely expecting to have more to criticize than to praise.

If I value things that are praiseworthy, I will look for them. I will seek them out. I will want to give praise where it is due.

That can be so hard for me as a mom sometimes. I need to praise the little helper trying to set the table instead of scolding him for dropping a plate. I need to praise the one who took the initiative to feed the dog instead of criticizing the dog food scattered all over the floor.

Do you struggle with this? or is it just me?

With the kids: Praise is contagious. Isn't it? Our kids learn to praise others because we model praise to them. So pour let's pour on the praise!