Welcome to Day #6 of the 31 Days to Professional Homemaking series. To learn more about this series and to see the list of topics, click HERE. Please know that I am not an expert in marriage, motherhood, or homemaking. I'm just a woman {who happens to be a wife, mother, and homemaker}, trying to figure it all out, by the grace of God. This series is just as much for me as it is for anyone reading.
Before we get started, I'd like to offer you the following button, in case you want to share this series with your readers:
Have you ever been to a foreign country? If so, it's likely that the people who call that place home spoke a different language than you. They probably dressed differently and ate foods that are unfamiliar to you. Etiquette rules are often different in other places {it's not polite to burp at the table here in America, but there are some countries in which a hearty burp after a meal is a compliment to the chef}.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
{Romans 12:2}
Have you ever heard the phrase, "in the world, but not of the world"? It simply means that we are physically present on the earth but, as Christians, we're supposed to be set apart. This means that we do not adopt the world's value system by participating in the sinfulness that they so eagerly embraces. In other words, the way we live our lives should be evidence of the fact that we have the spirit of God dwelling within us.
So, what does being set apart have to do with home culture?
Outside of our home, the culture is different {or, at least, it should be}. People who don't belong to Christ will talk different, act different, dress different, and maybe even eat different foods. But, how often do our homes {and the people in them} look and act like everyone else?
You see, we should be living out a set-apart culture within our homes. Because we know that this world is not our true home, we're called to look at it as our mission field while we're here. Which brings me to another purpose of our homes that I failed to mention on Wednesday when we talked about the many different purposes of our home { yet it sort of ties in with the idea of an Embassy}: our homes can serve as a "mission" - where we live while we are missionaries to the people around us.
Now, before we get into some practical ideas for cultivating a Christian home culture, we have to first define what "home culture" is:
"Home culture is that aura or feeling that pervades in a home which is often manifested in the layout of interior spaces, home decoration, in the design and position of furniture, colour of drapes. It is from the home culture that the intricacies of human perception and behaviour are learned and understood.
People often think of their homes as their castle ... their sanctuary...their personal space. A home can tell us a lot about the occupants – how they eat, sleep, play and entertain, their likes and dislikes. Homes convey meanings – from the layout of spaces, the colour of walls, positioning of furniture etc. They are a true reflection of the values, beliefs and attitudes of the people living in them."
{SOURCE}
This is, what I call, the "secular version" of the definition, but I share it because it does hold some worthwhile truth. Although this statement mainly refers to the way a home looks {which definitely plays a role within home culture}, I want you to focus on the following sentences: "It is from the home culture that the intricacies of human perception and behaviour are learned and understood" and, "they are a true reflection of the values, beliefs and attitudes of the people living in them."
Here's the thing, your home communicates to everyone what your values, beliefs, and attitudes are. Whatever values, beliefs, and attitudes are communicated are the ones that your children learn and understand, thus take them on as their own.
So, if we're to be set-apart as ambassadors for Christ and missionaries to the town/city/state in which we live, how do we create a home culture that supports this purpose? I love the way June {originally from A Wise Woman Builds Her House} defines "home culture" in a guest post on Ladies Against Feminism.
"Home culture is the atmosphere that is purposefully and intentionally cultivated within the four walls of your home. It is the music when you walk in the door, it is the conversation at the dinner table, it is games played by the fireside, it is the singing when your daughters do the dishes or the laughter of small toddlers who find a small green caterpillar. Culture…it exists just as richly and lively inside your home as it does outside your front door."
{I highly encourage everyone to read the post in its entirely HERE.}
So, what are some practical things we can do?
- Focus on relationships - love and respect your husband; disciple and discipline your children; welcome family, friends, and strangers with open hearts and open arms.
- Guard what comes into your home - choose entertainment wisely {music, television, video games, internet}.
- Feather the nest - light scented candles, display pretty flowers, and provide easy access to warm blankets for your family and guests.
What are some other ways we can cultivate a Christian home culture?
Today's Challenge:
Each day, I'll give you a challenge: one small thing you can do to apply each day's topic to your life and your home.
Here's your challenge for today:
1. What kind of home do you have? Write down what your home culture is like right now, today. Be honest with yourself. Is that the kind of home culture you want to continue pursuing? Or are there changes to be made?
2. Write down the kind of home you want to have. Describe what that home looks like and the kind of atmosphere it has. Talk about how your family interacts with one another and how you work together to be ambassadors and missionaries. What needs to change in order for your home culture to become what you've written down? Make one of those changes today!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.