The tone in your home!

Have you noticed that there is a certain tone or mini culture everywhere we go? Places of business have a certain "feel" that is reflected in the way they treat customers and co-workers. Churches have a certain "feel" that can be detected right away. It is reflected by the way people relate to each other and newcomers. Schools have a mini culture. The truth is that nearly every group of people create a mini culture within their ranks. The driving force is heavily influenced by the leaders of the group.
Families also create a mini culture. I'm sure that you have visited families and noticed that some families are quiet, loud, respectful, disrespectful, close, detached, wasteful, frugal, expressive, stoic, self reliant, whiny, and the list goes on and on. The tone in the home should be set by the parents.
The tone in the home is a powerful shaping tool that will influence your children for a lifetime, either positively or negatively. After all, one of the big hurdles early in marriage is two people from homes with differing tones and customs learn to mesh together.
So the point is this, if we don't take time to choose the qualities that will make up the tone in our home, then negative qualities will creep in and take over....simply because we are people with flaws living in a fallen world and we must choose to daily overcome these effects.
This week, take some time with your spouse to discuss the tone you want to set in your home and relationship. May I suggest including the fruit of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22,23. I would like to suggest deciding to be a family that includes the gifts of love, joy, and laughter. Think of ways you can value each other in the day to day details of life.
When guests enter your home, what "feel" do you want to greet and overwhelm them? Enjoy taking time to choose and pursue these better things.

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