It's all in how we say it....

Speak the following sentences aloud.  

1. "I have to pick my child up at school today"
2. "I want to pick my child up at school today"

What's the implied difference to the speaker and to the person who is listening?  What's the difference to a young child or teenager who hears these phrases?

1. "I have to clean my house.  It never seems to end. Will I ever get a break?"
2. "I am truly blessed to have a home needing cleaning."

1. "I have to work today."
2. "I am blessed to have work."

1. "It takes me over an hour to drive to work. Traffic is terrible."
2. "My commute allows me time to listen to wonderful music, an audio book or listen to a teaching CD."

Do the above statements fill your bucket or send a negative vibe?

Lesson for today:
Intentionally change how you say things.  Even if you don't feel like it, speak differently.  I promise your outlook will change and the people around you will feel loved rather than an inconvenience.  If you make a concerted effort to speak positively, especially about caring for your children, your perspective will change and your children will feel truly valued.

Challenge:  use "want to" rather than "have to".  It's a simple change that just may rock your world.