House Rules

I love the Duggar family. Love 'em or hate 'em, you have to admit-they got the organization and character training down.  I think I just love the dynamic of  large families.  Maybe it stems from my undying wish as a kid to become part of the Brady Bunch. Actually, when I was 6 years old we lived next door to a family who was just like the Brady Bunch...well, as far as the kids and their ages.  There were 3 boys and 3 girls and they were the same ages as the Brady kids.  Except they were like the Brady's Gone Wild.  They were raised by a single mom who worked all the time and the kids had WAY too much time without adult supervision.  Fire crackers lit in the house, a tree house which, after the two highschool aged kids had been in it for a while, smelled of "wacky tobaccy" smoke and was littered with Dorito bags and Little Debbie wrappers (you get my drift?  Hey-this was 1976 after all...).  But I loved to go over there.  I loved the noise, the chaos, the impromptu games of kick ball and red rover...but I digress...

Okay, so I love to watch the  Duggars.  It is fascinating to me that there is so much respect and obedience among a house with so many different personalities.  I only have two kids and some days I wish I had a hamster ball to stuff each of them into so they will QUIT AGGRIVATING EACH OTHER.  So I went to the Duggar website and came across their house rules. I printed them out and they are posted on our classroom wall.  Here they are:

1. Always use soft words, even when you don’t feel well.
2. Always display kind actions and joyful attitudes, even if you have been mistreated. Have the right response by quickly forgiving others in your heart even before they ask.
3. Always be enthusiastic and look for opportunities to praise others' character.
4. Always deflect praise and be grateful to God and others for the ways they have benefited your life.
5. Always use manners and be respectful of others and their belongings.
6. Always do what is right, even when others may not, or when no one is looking.
7. Thank God for how He made you, for what He has given you and everything He allows you to go through. (Romans 8:28)
8. Don’t mock or put others down. Develop compassion and pray for others.
9. Never argue, complain, or blame. Quickly admit when you have done wrong and ask for forgiveness (even if you were only 10% at fault). Don't wait till you’re caught. Be sure your sins will find you out. He who covers his sin will not prosper, but he that confesses and forsakes it shall find mercy.
10. Have a tough accountability/prayer partner to daily share your heart with and to keep you in line (your parents, spouse). The power of sin is in secrecy.
11. Be attentive and look for ways to serve others with sincere motives and no thought of self-gain.
12. Think pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8, Romans 13:14).
13. Always give a good report of others. Don't gossip! Never tale-bear unless physical harm will come to someone. (Use Matthew 18.)
14. Never raise a hand to hit.
15. Never raise a foot to kick.
16. Never raise an object to throw.
17. Never raise a voice to yell.
18. Never raise an eye to scowl.
19. Use one toy/activity at a time. Share!
20. Do your best to keep your surroundings neat, clean and organized.
21. Never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Don’t go to bed angry or guilty)
22. Amendment J.O.Y. -
           Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.