Mom Heart Moments #165

The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor.

TIME CHANGES FROM so much travel had left me so exhausted, I thought I would fall asleep standing up. An unusual seven weeks straight of traveling had me coming and going constantly as I flew back and forth across the country. After my final trip home, Joel met me at the airport, whisked my bags away, and drove me home.

Home sweet home called my name as we pulled into the driveway. As I walked in the door, I saw that candles were lit, music was playing softly, and the table was set with warm bowls of soup and crusty herb bread. Fresh flowers and a “welcome home” sign greeted me in the sweep of entering the front door.

“Welcome home, Mama. I bet you are ready to sleep in your own bed for a long while,” Sarah commented as she put the last bowl of soup on the table.

What a treat! Finally, my labor had come to fruition. My children had “caught” it!

The values I had in mind when I prepared my home this way day after day, month after month, year after year, have become their own standard of what a home should “speak” to people when they walk into it.

A mama has to be a servant leader who provides a wonderful sanctuary for her children, so they will want to be a part of continuing to make it a sanctuary. Sometimes, the laboratory of life is a mess and you can’t quite see what is being accomplished except just existing. But building these homey ideals into the warp and woof of life as the children grow with you creates habits and gives them a solid foundation for building beauty and order and comfort in their own homes.

Are your children learning to work alongside you to make your home comfortable? Or do you tend to do it all? Remember, they need to learn these skills too!