In my previous post, I mentioned an object lesson from one of Sunday’s classes that made such an impression on me that I went to Wal-Mart in search of some children’s wooden blocks. Someone on Facebook asked what the blocks demonstrated, and I told her I’d follow up with details later.
Later is now. Now is the time to share what the significance of the blocks. But first, here’s part of the original post.
“In the final meeting of the day, the teacher shared ideas about making homes places of order, refuge, protection, and holiness. I was already familiar with everything she said, and yet there was something about the spirit in the room that caused me to sit up and take notice.
“Throughout her lesson, I kept looking at a collection of children’s building blocks that she had on the table. What was their purpose?
“Anne, the teacher, built a wall with the blocks, an object lesson that literally rocked my world. I told my husband about it last night, and something in the story prompted him to wash the dishes! I shared it with my daughter Elizabeth, and even she, a teacher, was impressed. I’m going to buy some wooden blocks and carry out he activity with my grandchildren soon. It was that good!”
Anne asked the class what kinds of things a person could do to add a sense of order, refuge, protection, and holiness to her home. At first, there were customary answers of prayer, Family Home Evening, and keeping the Sabbath holy. Each time someone spoke up, Anne added a block until she had four lined up in a straight row.
As the moments passed, the responses reflected more of the day-to-day living that takes place in a household. For example, someone said that attitudes, both good and bad, were contagious and that if a person made more of an effort to smile instead of pout or complain, that might help the overall spirit.
- “And what about having more of an attitude of gratitude? It’s really irksome when I prepare a meal and people complain about it.”
- “I encourage the kids to share–and to just spend more time with each other.”
- “Things would be better at my house if my children did what I asked them to do the first time. By the time I’ve asked them three times, my patience is wearing thin, and I just about lose it! That can’t be good for creating a refuge, much less a place of holiness.”
- “We don’t watch R-rated movies, not because we’re prudes but because we don’t want that spirit in our home.”
- “We have dinner together whenever possible.”
- “Music. Beautiful music wafting throughout the house, that’s what we do.”
- “What I think makes things smoother is when we help each other out with chores. Without being asked, sometimes one of the kids will empty the dishwasher or set the table for a sibling.”
- “How about just saying something nice, something complimentary to a family member?”
- “Since we’re talking about it, everyone likes to hear ‘I love you.’”
- “We limit TV time.”
Each time someone made a comment, the teacher added another block. Within a couple of minutes, she had four rows of horizontal and vertical blocks, a structure that resembled a wall. As the class looked at this simple design, Anne added that if each person did the things that had been shared, we could all have a wall of order, protection, refuge, and holiness between our homes and the world.
There are bullies, pornography, drugs, rejection, disappointment, heartache, meanness, evil, and Satan enticing you with “a silken thread,” but that wall can help in a myriad of ways. I’m not sure that I’m always successful in this endeavor, but I earnestly do try to make our home orderly, welcoming, safe, and yes, even holy.
mom's musings 
i liked this very much.