A Welcoming Atmosphere

A Welcoming Atmosphere

A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

My family moved to a new town the summer before I started fourth grade. Luckily, that was the year everyone my age moved from third grade at Ripley Elementary to fourth grade at Wagner Elementary, so I didn’t feel like such an odd duck. I was quiet and shy, but quickly became firm friends with a girl named Melissa.

My new friend lived in a beautiful home in the country. Her parents had both grown up in the area, and her dad was a hardworking farmer. As a result, Melissa had a large extended family, many of whom lived close.

I spent countless hours at their home. I remember playing in the rain in the spring, picking rocks out of the fields to prepare them for planting, cruising way too fast on a snowmobile in the winter, and playing games like Donkey Kong and Mario Kart year-round. We listened to music, talked about boys, and immediately rewound the VHS of Clueless to watch it over again. Melissa’s lower-floor bedroom was a haven for me through all the awkwardness of middle school.

I loved spending time with my friend, but I also loved her big family. Her cousins made me feel right at home, even if I did worry that they would bounce me right off her trampoline. Her grandpa was gentle, her aunt and uncle were friendly, and everyone was always kind.

As a mom now myself, it’s a great reminder to me of the influence I can have on my daughters’ friendships. Proverbs says that our homes are more than just a physical location built from wood and concrete; they are built and strengthened by wisdom. Room by room, our homes become a haven to others when we fill them with the precious love and grace God so generously provides. In my mind, children and their friends are some of the most precious valuables who can enter our homes. The atmosphere I create in my home can reinforce love, respect, and care for others, or it can showcase indifference. Choosing to fill our home with love and friends is truly the richest way to live.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Brainstorm ways to ensure that the atmosphere of your home is welcoming to friends of all ages.