We know it at the outset; rubbing that first swollen belly, that the precious one inside that we can hardly wait to hold, caress, kiss – we know that we will pain their tiny, precious heart. Our actions, reactions, and words hold the potential to leave scars. Our love is fallible. Moms and dads are superhumans, but they’re still humans: fallible and finite.

{Proverbs 10:11}

We know these things, but we can’t understand it until we rock the broken child, wipe his salty tears, and whisper apologies. With the slip of the tongue we fall very, very short of passing onto them the love of Christ.

{Ephesians 4:29}

The years we have with our children are so very short; far too short for empty words. We are called to pack into these years all of the words of life that we can.

What we say absolutely has the potential of tearing our children down. One quick word, one harsh reaction, one slip of the tongue can undo days, weeks, even years of relationship building. It is both terrifying and sobering to hold this power, especially when we so often fail to wield it well.

Yet it is also in the power of our words that we can gift our children with the most abundant kind of life.

Our words can impart to our children the very life of Christ, and all because Christ has bestowed His very own righteousness on us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For our sake He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

God looks beyond our fallibilities and regrets, and He sees only the blood of Christ. He sees us as whole, clean, and in completely right standing before Him. He calls us righteous, and I fall to my knees in absolute gratitude. It is this righteousness, a righteousness not of our own but only by His gift, that we have full power in Christ to speak life straight into our child’s spirit.

When we are walking in Christ’s righteousness, claiming it as our own and fully depending on Him to make it more of a reality in our life every day as we seek Him, then He will speak life through us. When our words are influenced by Christ’s righteousness, our children will find life, hope, kindness, and truth that will guide them into the most abundant life, a life with Christ.

Here are 7 simple phrases you can say to be a fountain of life to your child. Try them this week, and watch as it transforms their hearts– and your own.

• A simple “I love you” as you look right into their eyes
• “I love that God made you special in this way __________”
• “I’m proud of you because ________”
• “I saw you do this today ____________, and it made me so happy.”
• “I saw you conquer this today _________, I was watching, and you did great!”
• “I appreciate that you did this today ___________”
• “I’m sorry I did this today ___________. Sometime’s moms sin too. Will you forgive me?”

I don’t always get this right. My words have been the cause of tear-streaked cheeks and trembling lips. But during those times that I have sought out God’s grace and help as I intentionally speak life to my children, I’ve witnessed the great transformation that takes place in within them. These words change everything.

Confidence, security, and joy bubble out of them, and they begin to speak their own words of life. My son climbs into my lap, burrows deep into my side, looks up and smiles before speaking his own words of life to me.

“I’m going to give you a kiss because it makes you so happy. I’m always here for you. I’m always here to make you happy.”

An incredible thing happens when we choose to intentionally pour words of life into the soul of our child—the same words begin to pour out from their own hearts. Begin today by claiming Christ’s promise of righteousness, allowing His words to transform you and your children.

Further Study: Proverbs 31:26, Prov. 12:18, Prov. 13:14, Prov. 15:4, Prov. 15:28, Prov. 16:24

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Artwork by Becki Campbell! Visit her blog and shop, here.