Amber Lia > Quotes

“We can demand respect because of our rank, or we can foster respect because of our righteousness.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“In these hard moments, I must remember that much of my parenting and training results in invisible seeds in my child’s heart instead of immediate changed behavior.”
― Amber Lia

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“Our children are not perfect, but they are perfectly designed to perfect us into the image of Christ.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“Dear Lord, I have felt like parenting is more of a burden than a joy, and my negative approach is doing more harm than good. I confess that I often want to control my kids and my circumstances instead of enjoying them. However, what I really want to be is a mom/dad who builds up my kids and does not simply boss them around. Help me to know what to say and when to say it to meet the needs of my child as an individual. Give me eyes to see the best in my children as gifts God has given to me! May my kids feel my pleasure in being their parent at all times, even when I am teaching and training them. In Jesus’ name, amen!”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“If the kids are loud and you’ve not had a moment’s peace, you still have to remain kind and in control of yourself. Though it’s your trigger, you aren’t allowed to pull it back and wound those around you. You must learn to control yourself, even on the noisiest days.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“Refuse to gaze at your old self; as you develop patience towards your kids, offer it to yourself, too. Trust God to transform you.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“These painful trials have not slipped through His fingers and into our lives by accident—they’ve been purposefully placed there by the King over heaven and earth. Your trials and your children were not just allowed—they were anointed. Therefore, we are blessed.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“And so today we are slowing down in the quiet of these words to make a plan, that we might see the moments when they backtalk not as invitations to fight, but as opportunities to lead them kindly to repentance.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“If we are continually nagging them, pointing out their faults, and telling them what not to do, we tear them down instead of building them up. Their hearts become as steely as the robots we fashion them into by our barking orders and rude demands.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“But for the most part, we can do a lot of good for our children by believing the best of them, speaking about the actions and attitudes we want to see more than what we don’t want to see, and breathing life into their hearts.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“We honor our parents, prefer our brothers, and encourage others.” Preferring brothers (and sisters) is at the heart of brotherly kindness. It means wanting what’s best for another before we take it for ourselves.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“I believe that you will do what’s right! I do. God did an awesome job when He made you with a heart that longs to do what’s right and honor others, but you’ve got to grow that muscle of obedience, just like every other muscle in your body that you want to get big and strong.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“If you have been doing things wrong—shaming and blaming, using unkind words and short-tempered responses, or simply letting behavior (theirs and yours) go unchecked for far too long—it’s time to make a better plan. When you are ready to apply some new plans and speak your new scripts, we suggest you start with this one: “Hey kids, I want to take a moment to apologize. I’m sorry for some of the things I’ve been saying and doing in our home. I’m going to be doing and saying a few things differently from here on out. I might forget sometimes and make mistakes, and I know you’ll make some mistakes too, but I want to talk with you the way God talks with me. God is gentle with me and longsuffering too, He builds me up and doesn’t tear me down. Would you forgive me for the mistakes I’ve made? I’m so happy God gave you to me. And I’m so grateful for forgiveness.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“I deal with long-term behavior issues in each of my kids. But as long as they are in my home, my job is to not give in to my exhaustion or weariness from parenting them. Every challenging moment with my child can be a victory for ME, even if it is not for THEM. There can always be a victor in our toughest and most draining moments”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
― Amber Lia, Marriage Triggers: Exchanging Spouses' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“Plant a seed of trust and water it with words of admiration while they are young, and I dare say that when they are grown, they will flourish into what we believed they were all along. And they won’t just be good citizens, they will be lights on a hill because they learned how to shine on the playground.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“Allowing kids to experience natural consequences and appropriate failure does not ruin them. It rescues them from an indecisive and entitled future.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“Moms and dads, husbands and wives, persevere under your present trials. Surrender this maddening pursuit of perfect children, and seek how the Lord wants to perfect you in the midst of the challenges today.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“a child who doesn’t honor authority will likely grow into an adult who doesn’t honor authority. That’s the heart issue I was prepared to talk about.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“Allowing kids to experience natural consequences and appropriate failure does not ruin them. It rescues them from an indecisive and entitled future.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“Having a child with special needs, behavioral disorders, and learning difficulties can be one of the most difficult weights to bear. And under the pressure, moms can explode, marriages implode, and love erode.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“we can do a lot of good for our children by believing the best of them, speaking about the actions and attitudes we want to see more than what we don’t want to see, and breathing life into their hearts.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“But please, let’s fill the minds of our children with nobility, purity, and whatever is praiseworthy as they head out our doors. Before”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“We may not get the refreshing or reviving we need to feel 100% each day, but that has no real bearing on our ability to respond biblically in the hard moments that will come our way. Be exhausted if you must, but give your kids your best self anyway.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“Which leads me to prayer. Only the Holy Spirit can meet my children in these quiet times, convicting their hearts, and in His kindness lead them to repentance and lasting change. Moms and dads, we have the awesome privilege to pray for our children. Pray for their hearts and their words.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses

“Parents are given the great responsibility to minister to their children, instilling in them a desire to seek God and find Him. If we are continually nagging them, pointing out their faults, and telling them what not to do, we tear them down instead of building them up. Their hearts become as steely as the robots we fashion them into by our barking orders and rude demands.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“Getting our little people nodding and smiling is good for the soil of their hearts! So often we want to go pound seeds into hard soil, but talking about positives first helps to turn and condition the soil, making hearts soft and receptive to fruit-bearing seeds.”
― Amber Lia, Parenting Scripts: When What You're Saying Isn't Working, Say Something New

“Empower me to build my loved ones up, even when they are attempting to tear the rest of us down in their own emotional angst.”
― Amber Lia, Triggers: Exchanging Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses