An Atmosphere of Contentment

Written by Mrs. Pamela Lancaster

"Education is Atmosphere"
~ Karey Swan

This is one of my favorite quotes that I keep above my desk. I call this little 11 inch by 17 inch bulletin board my inspiration place, and on it I put any quote or scriptures that I want to keep before me to inspire and remind me of how I want to respond to life. This quote is by my Colorado friend, Karey. By her life choices she "spurs me on towards love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24), and this is one reason that I have her words on my board.

What did you think of when you first read the above quote? Did you think of children sitting quietly at their desks working intently on their math papers in a room with a creative bulletin boards display and a smiling teacher? Maybe you envisioned a fire crackling in the fireplace and the children sitting in comfy chairs or snuggled next to their mother while she reads the next chapter in a wonderful book (don't forget the snow softly falling outside or the steaming cups of herb tea or hot chocolate with big puffy marshmallows on top). Perhaps your mind's eye saw a kitchen table around which a family is dining while having a lively discussion about current events or the possible Year 2000 computer problems and how the family will prepare.

No matter what you envisioned it was probably a pleasant scene. While I think the physical atmosphere of a home is very important, what I want to center on in this article is the atmosphere that surrounds the mother of the home.

Atmosphere is defined simply as the surrounding influence. So we want evaluate what kind of atmosphere we are for our children. What kind of atmosphere do you want to be? Take a few minutes to do a mini self-evaluation. Jot down a few character qualities you would like to be displaying to make a pleasant atmosphere in your home.

Also on my little bulletin board is a Mary Englebreit sticker that reads: "To be happy, don't do whatever you like; like whatever you do." On the sticker is a little housewife dancing along with a vacuum cleaner in a one hand and a feather duster in the other complete with a rose in her mouth. The point being to like the job God has given you to do.

This caused me to think that one element of a good atmosphere would be contentment. In Philippians 4:11-12 Paul tells us:

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Let me take a little liberty here and make some applications for us as mother (since we are not in prison as Paul was), particularly in the area of homeschooling. "I know what it is to be in need." (to have limited funds for the moth, extra bills to pay because of illness, to not have lesson plans done, to feel inadequate to the task, to be tired, to not have space for another child, to have a headache, etc., etc., etc.) "and I know what it is to have plenty," (to have energy and health, to have the house clean and the laundry done, to be organized, to have lesson plans done for the year, to have all the bills paid with money left over for a date, etc., etc., etc.).

We need to learn what Paul had learned, to not let circumstances affect whether or not he felt content. His focus was not on the circumstances but on God, and because of that he had learned "the secret of being content." What is that secret? That secret is found in verse 13: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." The strength to be content comes through Christ as I face each circumstance knowing that He, not me, is on charge.

How do I get this strength? Only one way: daily communion with God. Daily putting my focus on Him, not on self or circumstances. Recently in my Quiet Time reading in "My Utmost for His Highest," Oswald Chambers said: "Get into the habit of saying 'Speak Lord,' and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press say, 'Speak Lord' and make time to listen."

Every time circumstances press I need to turn immediately to my Heavenly Father; I shouldn't wait even a second. That takes consistent training on my part, and hopefully as time marches on I will get better at doing that--I'm very much still in training here! I ask God to speak to me, to bring to mind just the right scripture to encourage me or to chastise me or to remind me again Who is in charge? What a pleasant atmosphere will prevail if I let go and look to my Father for His strength and direction.

So today I face my day knowing that Christ is with me and I am content knowing that I face each task, each circumstance, each child, each duty, Christ will give me the strength to carry out my job assignment. Does that mean everything will be rosy? By no means. But everything will be in focus because Christ is on the throne and all is well. The atmosphere in my classroom today is bright and sunny even if outside it is rainy. I am content, yes even happy, doing the job God has given me to do because I am not alone in my weakness. The atmosphere that surrounds my children will, by God's grace, be one that reflects the reality of God in my life.

I know that there are many more elements to having a good atmosphere in the home and I’ll try to get back to them in the next issue.

May God give us the strength to be a pleasing aroma (2 Cor. 2:14-16) not only to Him but to our families as well. Our children will learn more from our actions than from any book. So let them learn contentment in the atmosphere of your loving presence TODAY. You will then be practicing a lasting heart-education.

For the glory of God alone,
Pam

This article has been reprinted with the permission of:

Patriach
P.O. Box 50
Willis, VA 24380

(This article is found in Issue #27. First published in July 1998)
Please see our Favorite Links for a link to Patriarch.

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