A Delightful Place

I looked up the word Eden, the first home, in the Hebrew. It means delight, pleasures. So God intended our homes to be delightful places. How then can we make our home a more delightful place for our husband, for our children? How can we make our home have a more delightful atmosphere? A place where everyone wants to be. A place where everyone loves to be. This should be our prayer.

I have been meditating on these things lately and then my sister in law wrote this wonderful article here that inspired me to create a challenge for my family....starting with me, of course! There are a few bad attitudes, negative behaviors that have subtly crept in. They're ugly, selfish, and sinful. And I've declared war on anything that robs my home of God's very best! The first one we are attacking this year as a family is raising our voices at each other. Sometimes it's out of frustration. I know I've been guilty of this when certain children do not focus during school. It's a tone of voice that we use. And that tone is anything but patient, kind and understanding. Sometimes it's from anger. Angry that a mistake has been made that (in our opinion) shouldn't have happened. These are just a couple of our issues.

So I have created a simple chart and it hangs on our bulletin board. We get a tick mark each time we raise our voice because we are not walking in love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

We will be graded at the end of each day as well as at the end of the week. There are rewards for positive change as God Himself is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! Whoever gets the fewest tick marks earns a special reward at the end of each day. But whoever does the best all week gets the Grand Prize! Something all three are VERY excited about!! (And I might add that none of the prizes cost me anything!)

Well, I'm happy to report to you that on our first day of accountability two of us received 2 marks each, and two of us received 1 mark each. I thought that was tremendous! And not only that but I heard the most wonderful conversation in the kitchen tonight. It made this mama's heart happy!

Pillar is our resident pizza maker. It's such a blessing to me when she's in charge of a meal. Well, tonight on her own accord, she was teaching her youngest sister to make them with her. It was the sweetest thing to watch. Pillar was so kind, and patient, and a loving teacher. I was so proud!
First Pillar demonstrated how to knead the bread and gave very clear directions. A+ dear!

Then Rosebud gave it a try. She doesn't do anything half way. She is very determined to get it right!

She was surprised at how difficult it got after a few minutes of kneading! lol

But not to worry.....she still was having FUN!!

Pillar made a BBQ chicken pizza and Rosebud made a pepperoni pizza. Look how hard she's concentrating. They were having so much fun together.

Aren't they great looking pizza's? I thought Rosebud did terrific for her first time. And I was completely impressed once again, by Pillar's patient teaching. Good job honey!

Home can be such a powerful place. I want my home to be a place where the girl's gifts will flourish. A peaceful, quiet, resting place. A place of fun, feasting, and fellowship too! We have a choice to make. God's shown us the way. I choose His Ways!! How about you?