Where to Look for Words of Gold

If you have kids, then you know they usually speak without filters. Thank goodness! Navigating what we say gets more complicated as we age, and that unabashed verbal freedom is very short-lived.

Our oldest son Grant was four years old and becoming interested in what he wore. It was Sunday and I had laid his clothes out for church. "Mommy, I don't wanna wear these!" He wanted to wear a pair of shorts and shirt that I deemed worthy only of playing in the backyard. Needless to say, I refused his request and a few tears later, he was in the car wearing the outfit I had chosen.

He was quiet most of the ride. When we were almost to church, he asked me a question in the voice I knew to be contemplative. "Mommy, what does Jesus say we should wear to heaven?" (You know where this is going, right?) "Oh honey, Jesus doesn't care what we wear to heaven. He'll just be happy to see us." Grant waited a few seconds before asking, "Then why does He care what we wear to church?" Bam. Words of gold from a four year old!

I thought about what our son had said and it inspired me to change the rules at our house. The kids could wear whatever they wanted, as long as it was clean with no holes. Didn't match? Didn't matter. Play clothes to church? Sure. My least favorite shirt on school picture day? Why not? 

This new approach halted arguments about what they were to wear. But more importantly, Grant's words taught me that my own pride had been steering the ship. 

Words of gold often come when we least expect them. It's a mindset to be looking and listening for their arrival. Could we easily find them in an Instagram post?  Sure. But I've found that the source makes all the difference.

Let's face it. Words from my son or someone I know will last a lot longer in my heart. 

What words of gold have stuck with you? Did they come from someone or somewhere you least expected? Share your gold below...