Churning Butter & Twisting Noses

"As churning milk makes butter,

As twisting the nose produces blood,

So stirring up anger produces strife."

Proverbs 30:33

Yesterday morning 2 of my 3 kiddos were churning a little milk and twisting a few noses. They weren't trying to be mean, but they were definately stirring up anger.

One was talking trash to the other so of course there had to be retaliation. Before you knew it, they were running through the house chasing one another and all you could hear was, "MOM!"

I called them both into my room and asked if they remembered making butter in preschool and kindergarten. You put that soured milk (can't remember what it's called) in a jar and simply shake the jar. It's a slow and steady process. You shake for what seems like forever, but eventually...boom... there is a little ball of butter.

I had the kids read Proverbs 30:33. When we make one small teasing comment, it's the first shake of the butter jar. We shake up a few cruel cutdowns, mix in a couple of angry punches, and the next thing you know, we have created a house full of strife.

For the rest of the day, anytime I heard a small shake of the anger jar, I would remind them, "You're churning butter!" or "Your twisting a nose!" It sounded a little strange but it was a fun way to remind us all to stop stirring the anger pot! Afterall, who wants to live in a house full of strife?