Your Home, Stronger: 12 Printable Proverbs on Emotional Health

Reading Time: 3 minutes

When my oldest son, Baden, was small, whenever lovely spring days wafted their way through the windows, I remember running around, slamming shut said windows at naptime while he was melting down.

What would the neighbors think about our Christian family when I was “disciplining” him—that is, yelling back?

Maybe this comes across just as hypocritical as it was. I cared more about what the neighbors thought than about possessing the knowledge to wisely love my son.

No matter what the neighbors could hear or not—or how well-behaved my kids appeared—my son and I didn’t respond to each other in ways that helped us understand each other, connect us more, or change each other for the better.

Both of us were operating from more primal parts of our brains at that point. He wasn’t about to come out of fight/flight/freeze, especially with me hollering. In fact, my responses were making sure he stayed that way even longer.

I wanted control of my kids. I wanted my son’s “irrational” behavior to just stop, already; I saw the problem as his.

But as a young mom, I had few healthy ideas on how to get there.

Thankfully, two-ish decades later–this isn’t really me anymore. In fact, Baden and I both value and enjoy our relationship. But even when we suddenly disagree, like we did last week, I’m a little astonished at the different person God’s slowly morphed me into. And the ways we’re able to navigate our way back to peace.

(I’ve been meditating on this a lot this year as I’ve written my upcoming book, How to Stop Yelling Up the Stairs: Keeping Your Cool While Raising Your Kids.

But I’m sure none of you godly parents out there have struggled with anger, right? So.)

Free Printable Scripture Art: 12 Verses from Proverbs on Emotional Health and Intelligence

Hopefully that’s not too much of a cliffhanger. But I do think ideas from Proverbs on emotional health have helped me get there. And people, there are a lot.

I hope to write a lot more here on the blog about anger in our closest relationships. Because, y’know, anger is kinda the new black. (Don’t miss this piece on Raising Kids in Outrage Culture.)

But first, I’ll give you time to chew on these. Imagine with me: How could these ideas change our homes? Our relationships? Our culture?

(Below these, find an artful printable version for your home.)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Proverbs 14:29
The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Proverbs 20:5
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. Proverbs 12:16
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:23
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Proverbs 29:11 (I’ve been memorizing this one in song thanks to the Verses Project, a project dedicated to putting Scripture to music.)
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:25
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11
In an abundance of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14
When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7

Which of these truths do you need most right now?

Maybe you can tack these free printable 12 verses from Proverbs on emotional health and intelligence up on the fridge or in a cupboard, or even place them in a small frame–or at any rate squirrel them away in your brain until memorized.

Pray them for yourself, your spouse, your kids. Pray them for our country. Maybe pass them along.

Your efforts toward more whole relationships reverberate through generations. Keep going.

signature