I want to continue this theme which I started in the last issue. I have recently looked up "atmosphere" and "air" in the encyclopedia and was reminded that there are various layers in our earth's atmosphere. While I am not going to make a direct analogy of the various layers, what I have been meditating on is that there are various layers of atmosphere in our home. The mother plays a primary role in developing the various layers. Last time we discussed the atmosphere of contentment a woman can bring to her home. For this issue I will share two more elements that make our home what God meant it to be: organization and beauty.

Over the early spring months I was reading and studying in preparation for my workshop talks (which I sometimes give when I accompany Phil to conferences). I want to share ideas from two of the books that I found helpful in thinking about these two elements of the home atmosphere.

Our God is a God of order and we are made in His image; therefore we are to be learning about and growing in the character quality of orderliness. I know some of you don't want to hear that, but it is the truth. It is wrong when we try to opt out of practicing any of His character qualities by saying, "Well, that doesn't really apply to me because I was not made with an orderly bent." The truth is that sin has marred the world and our own character, and thus you may well not have a bent toward orderliness, but that is beside the point. We are to be working on all the elements of godly character. So there you have it; no escape clause!

But don't despair because God says in James 1:5 that He will give us wisdom when we ask for it. One source of that God-given wisdom can be found in the book, Simply Organized, by Emilie Barnes. This book has moved to the top of my list of books on home organization and is a must-have for every woman's personal library shelf. All of my daughters will have one on their library shelves, too. Why this high recommendation? Because as it's title suggests it is simple, and I always think the simple and basic approach is best to problem solving. This book is very nonthreatening because of it's size, 7 x 7 inches, and its length: only 95 pages. After reading this book you will know the essentials for being organized. You will then just have to work on the heart attitudes that lie at the root of being organized. For only a small investment ($12.99) you will have the tool you need for creating an orderly home (and the last two chapters even show you how to help your children learn orderliness).

This layer of the home atmosphere is important to our homes for many reasons, and one of those is that our homes are Command Central for education. When a home is orderly, that means life is more pleasant and peaceful, and therefore positive learning can occur. Since learning is always taking place, one of our jobs is to create an atmosphere where the learning is positive and not negative.

Emilie begins her book with this quotation:

He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life... But where no plan is laid... chaos will soon reign. —Victor Hugo

Let me paraphrase this quote for us:

She who every morning plans the transaction of the day (starting with her quiet time so her focus is on the Lord and then moving on to make her "To Do" list ) and follows out that plan (living out Proverbs 16:9, because she knows that God is really directing and guiding her day with His "To Do" list) carries a thread that will guide her through the labyrinth of the most busy life... But where no plan (spiritual and physical) is laid... chaos will soon reign. (Without a godly perspective or proper focus on God and a general orderliness to the home, a woman is ruled by the tyranny of the urgent and disorder blocks out the daily lessons God intended for her and her family.)

A very simple definition of orderliness is: everything in its place. That means everything in your home needs a place where it belongs and everyone needs to know where things belong. Books need to be on shelves or in baskets or bins; and better yet, they need to be grouped by categories so you can find a given book. There need to be places for pencils and paper, tape, pencil sharpener, etc. Toys need to have a shelf, basket, or bin when not in use. Everyone needs a place to keep their learning tools, be it a knapsack or desk area. I find that when the basic tools of daily life are not handy irritations flair up leading to a cloudy or even stormy atmosphere in the home. Then the very opposite of what I want to model and teach in the home is displayed and learned.

Homes are not static monuments to taste. They're not museums. They are simply the stage where we experience the drama of our lives and where we invite others to share it with us. As the play changes, so will the set. And the whole process, I believe, was meant to be fun. —Welcome Home, by Emilie Barnes

This quote leads me to the next element of the home atmosphere that I want to consider with you and that is beauty.

Recently I had the opportunity to see a Shakespeare play. I love live theater. I love not only the actual play but I enjoy seeing the sets that have been created and how they change and move them around to create the various scenes. In this play the sets were so simple yet so effective and easily changed.

Likewise home sets can change to meet the various activities and needs of a family's daily life. In Philippians 4:8 we are told to think on several things, one of which is whatever is lovely. How can we think about lovely things if we never have lovely things surrounding us in our homes to inspire our thoughts? Now I am not talking about expensive things but lovely things such as a bouquet of flowers or leaves, or a beautiful picture, or an arrangement of rocks or shells, or books, or family photographs.

As I talk with women I realize that there are some who freeze up when beauty or creativity are mentioned and I get responses like, "Beauty isn't important," or "Beauty is an unnecessary extravagance," or "I have boys and beauty is impossible." I often wonder: Don't these women ever look outside and marvel at God's creation. Talk about an extravagance of beauty! Was God wasteful when He created such variety and color and texture? Beauty is simply using what God has made for our enjoyment, and creativity is simply putting it together in a new or pleasing way. (Read Edith Schaeffer's book The Hidden Art of Homemaking for more on this topic.)

As I have been thinking on this area of beauty and the home I've read a number of different perspectives on the topic, from New Age to Christian, and the common thread is always the importance of beauty to one's life and well being. As I have pondered this I have also been making some observations of women and their responses to homeschooling and to life in general. My preliminary conclusion is that women who give their homes some degree of beauty are happier, more content, and seem to have a happier home and school. Those women who always have something negative to say on most any topic are like Eeyore the donkey in the Winnie the Pooh stories and tend to live in a gloomy place like Eeyore did.

When I look around me and take the time to see the beauty of the world God has created for me I can't help but be inspired to provide a beautiful and creative home for my family to live in. I believe our homes are to be a visible reflection of our Lord and Creator, in whose image we are made, and are to draw first of all our families and then a lost and dying world to Christ. Beauty is a very powerful drawing card for people. Who chooses to be in an ugly and dark place when they can be in a light and beautiful place? When I read Scripture it seems to me that heaven will be very beautiful with no effort spared to make it so. Am I not to do the same with my home on earth?

The second book I am recommending you read and have in your library is Beautiful Home on a Budget by Emilie Barnes and Yoli Brogger. Again this is a small-sized and short, to-the-point, book. One of the things I like best about this book is the authors' philosophy of "Love what you have." Look and see what God has already given you that you just need to use in a new way or freshen up. I suspect that God has already provided you with beautiful things; they are just buried away in a drawer or closet. Children need beauty and respond to it, and yes, they can be taught to respect beautiful things and to be careful around them.

Provide a protected visible place for the family heirloom, but get it out and let it add beauty and meaning to your home. My personal style is to change decorations seasonally using what God provides in His creation and the flea market treasures that I've bought. I work on not losing it when something gets broke, and I think I am getting better, because beauty and the atmosphere that it creates is worth even the occasional loss. I have even graduated to letting women use my family heirloom teacup if that is the one they choose to use; I no longer put any limitations on my teacup collection. My great, great grandmother's teacup is beautiful and was made to be used, and as best as I am able I have prepared myself to pass the test if it gets broken. It is after all only a thing and the enjoyment of seeing others use it is worth the risk. Things do get broken, but my experience has proven that God always provides the things I need for my home even down to the beautiful things.

So as I see it, the atmospheric condition, the surrounding influence of the home is made up of the mother's prevailing attitudes, the orderliness of the home, and the physical beauty of the home. When these three elements are present then positive heart education is happening. May the atmosphere of your home encourage you and your family to shine ever brighter for the honor and glory of God. (Proverbs 4:18)