Love is patient...

My kids have been bickering a lot and have both exhibited attitudes that are not very complimentary, I decided that I didn't just need to correct the behavior, but to get to the root of why the behavior was bad.  So I wrote out the verse about love from 1 Cor. 13, you know, the "love is patient, love is kind" one, and taped to the hallway wall near their time out spot.  Now, every time they begin to act in an unloving way, we go and read the verse (I read and they repeat) and then they have to tell me what being patient, kind, unselfish, etc. means and why the way they were acting was not loving.  Well, about three mornings after I put it there, I got mad at the kids for goofing around and not getting dressed.  Elias said, "Mommy, you need to go read the verse!".  So, we did and we talked about why I wasn't acting loving.   Although, Elias said that I was selfish because I was always busy and didn't play with them all the time.  I had to explain to him that mommy had responsibilities, and even though it meant that I couldn't play all the time, it didn't mean I was selfish.  I think it has helped us all to remember that we are not only needing to be nice to one another, but why.  I would love to say that is the only time that my kids have had to walk with me to the wall to review the verse for my benefit, but it is not.  But I am glad that it gives me the opportunity to talk to them about mistakes and how we correct them, even if mine are serving as an example!