Cultivating JOY in the Home

You know sometimes when you happen to be interacting with a toddler—he or she talks to you, and immediately, you look at the mother for a translation? Well, in case you ever happen to be talking to Nathaniel, here is some help in understanding him:

Nathaniel knows his numbers from 1 to 10. However:

One = “WEE”
Seven = “FOO” (I have no idea why)

Thanks = “Ting”
Circle = “Der Doe”
Push = “Beesh”
Up = “Up –poh” (Not to be confused with ‘Apple’)
Triangle = “Keu”
Deen Wah (Phone in Chinese) = “Deen Dah”

I'm in the middle of reading Nancy Wilson's Praise Her in the Gates: The Calling of Christian Motherhood. While her chapters cover such topics as the church, pregnancy/childbirth, dealing with sick kids, what to do during dinnertime/bedtime/holidays, discipline... there seems to be an underlying message to all these different aspects of the mother's life: the importance of cultivating JOY in the home.

Consider the following excerpts from her book:

"A pleasant home should be full of joy and full of beauty--the beauty of holiness. Though these are closely connected, the first is more important because it is the foundation for the second. There can be no holiness apart from joy-inducing forgiveness and redemption. We must understand that the beauty that accompanies holiness is impossible apart from transforming grace. This beauty sloshes over into our surroundings as we strive to make our homes reflect the goodness, glory, and majesty of God's perfect beauty." (p. 91)

"God's people, of all the people in the world, ought to be a rejoicing people because we, of all people, have much to rejoice about. Our homes should be pleasant, happy, lovely reflections of the joy we have received in Christ. Here is a thought test you can run ot see if your home is indeed a pleasant place to be. Is there rejoicing in your 'tents'? Does your home spill out sweetness and light? Is it pleasant for the family as well as guests? Do your husband and children look forward to being home? Are you an oasis of comfort to your family when they come home? Is it a peacefuly, happy aroma that pervades?" (p. 92)

"The pleasant home is gracious. This means it is full of grace. If Christ is not present in our lives, He is not present in our homes. We cannot attempt to call Him up to appear whenever we want Him, perhaps during family devotions at dinnertime. We are to serve Him, present our bodies to Him as living sacrifices, every day of our lives. If Christ reigns in our lives, then it follows that He will reign in our homes. This aroma of Christ is what makes our homes more than pleasant. It makes them glorious.

In all, then, a pleasant home is where our families can laugh together, relax together, work together, eat together in harmony and love. It is not a place where our children had better tow the line or Mom will jump on them." (p. 94)

"Our homes are the canvases He has given us to paint. Let us paint them with soul, with gospel, and with all our might." (p. 96)

Nathaniel has been making it so easy to be joyful every morning. And I find that even when he gets upset over something, with the right spirit, if I can just turn the situation into something fun or amusing, a tiny smile will begin to creep up on that adorable face. JOY is contagious!

How blessed we are that God has intended for our homes, our families, to function this way!