May 2008
Mother Maxim
A Maori saying:
He aha te mea nui o te Ao! Maku e ki atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!
Mother Moment –
Practice Hospitality
Let’s visit and get to know each other. Do we really need to wait for the gilt-edged invitation to come? Our family is known to pop in, saying “Do you want visitors now?” Very rarely have we been turned away. We might have had just very short visits but we parted having been blessed for seeing each other. It is easier with fewer children but do make the effort to blend in a visit with another family “on the way” to somewhere.
Of course, you could get all organised (I don’t achieve that status very often) and arrange a visit.
I’ve come to appreciate that the “real stuff of life” happens in homes. That’s why the kettle is only a couple of minutes off the boil – and I love the opportunity to sit down, take time off the boring cleaning stuff, and have a yakker – to build relationships and friendships.
- Make it your goal to have at least one neat room in your house most of the time – preferably the one family members and visitors see first when they come in the door, or where they go to relax.
- Take the television out of the main lounge.
- Don’t underestimate the calming effects of soothing music on the whole family. Start a collection of pleasant (word-free) music that can be played softly to lift your spirits and calm frazzled nerves.
- Decorate your house with things that represent happiness and good memories: family pictures, special Bible verses, or awards that family members have received. These are constant reminders of what’s most important to the family.
- Lighting also affect the way the eye and the brain interprets what it sees. Consider the relaxing effect of candles on the dinner table set for two! Be careful about burning candles if you have small children.
- Cushions are a cheap and easy-to-replace way to experiment with colour. Fuchsia, lime, and orange (and probably all together) are popular colours to add a bold ‘zing’ to your room. Change according to season or mood!
- Flowers collected from your garden (or someone else’s) and placed in a vase in the entranceway or on the table brings a visual symphony of colour, scent, and texture into your home. This is a mini-celebration of the wonder of God’s creativeness.
– Johanna W, 2008
Mother’s Heart
Lord, may my home be available for people – primarily for me and my husband, my children, and then also for friends (theirs and mine). Putting people first.
Bankwhitt Academy 
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