Don't Hide Your Emotions - Day 186

Don't Hide Your Emotions
Day 186

Do not try to hide your feelings from your children. You will not be successful!

Think back over the past few days and identify times when you held back your true emotions and "put on a happy face" for the sake of your children. Your children are experiencing different degrees of the same feelings you are. If you cover up your emotions, your children will follow your example.

One suggestion to help your family communicate their emotions to each other is with a "Feelings Chart." Write on the chart "Today I feel .." and attach a piece of Velcro in the space after "feel." (You may want to have a space for each family member.) Then, draw faces or write down emotions on several circles of heavy paper and attach Velcro on the backs. Include as many different emotions as you can think of. Remember that younger children may need simpler words and pictures, but older children and adults will need a wide range of words to help them better identify and express their emotions.

Here are some ideas, which can be adapted to meet your needs: sad, lonely, angry, confused, guilty, bitter, rejected, helpless, afraid, worried, disappointed, resentful, jealous, inadequate, vindictive, depressed, lost abandoned, betrayed, sorrowful, better, so-so, relieved, okay, not bad, hopeful, peaceful, reassured, thankful, secure, insecure, unloved, loved, encouraged, joyful.

Each day find the emotion that best describes how you feel at any given time and place that word on the chart. Have your other family members do this as well.

God promises to be with you through all of your emotional turmoil. He also promises to comfort, heal, and strengthen you. God's Word is full of promises to you.

"There hath not failed one word of all his good promise" (1 Kings 8:56 KJV).

Thank you, Father, that You will never fail me. Help me to see the big picture beyond my tangled emotions. Amen.