31 Days to Bless Your Home: Easy Tips for the Domestically Challenged
Week 1- The Sensual Home: Learning to Appeal to All Five Senses to Create Beauty in Your Home
Day 3 – Music: The Mood Maker
“And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.” 1 Samuel 16:23 NLT
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| My son, Bryan, playing the violin |
This week’s challenge: Choose one new idea from each of the five senses to enhance the atmosphere of your home.
Today’s challenge: Turn off the TV and try a new style of music in the background during dinner time.
As women, we have such a marvelous opportunity to create the atmosphere of our homes. However, that does not mean that we are cookie cutters and must all fit into the same mold. Regardless of your personality or style, as a woman, you are blessed with the role of building a nurturing, stimulating, cheerful, yet relaxing haven for your family.
As we have been discussing how our five senses contribute to the mood of our homes, let us take a moment and look at how the sense of hearing, or how various sounds and types of music may affect the spirit of our homes.
When I have entered into a house in which the TV is blaring, kids are fighting, parents are shouting, unnerving music is shaking the walls, and ugly and abusive words are spewing like a volcano from out-of-control-foul-mouths, I do not feel at home in such an environment. Rather, such unproductive noise brings stress and anxiety. This is not a home that is conducive to spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical nurturing.
My first bit of advice is to bring quiet and calm into your home. Get rid of the NOISE!! Then, replace it with joyful and pleasant sounds. Fill your home with words that bless, peaceful tranquility, laughter, and of course – music! You will be completely amazed at what a difference this will make in your home and for your family!
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| Grandsons are the best! They are never too young to learn to love music! |
Moll Anderson calls music the home’s “atmosphere thermostat.” I love that, because that is exactly what it is! You can control the atmosphere by adjusting the sounds in your home and choosing a variety of styles of music.
I have really been looking forward to today’s challenge in particular because music is my passion! As you can see from the Scripture above, 1 Samuel 16:23, that when David played the harp, the evil spirit would leave Saul. Music soothed his soul and comforted him. That is the power of music, and that is God’s gift to us!
I had written an article for my former school’s newspaper on the therapeutic power of music as well as the benefit of music in education. Unfortunately, my flash drive will not allow me to access it to share it with you. However, here are some of the things I have learned about the benefits of music: (Keep in mind that not all of these include every kind of music. The appropriate music must be chosen for the desired benefit.)
- Music can calm the central nervous system, relieve stress, and help one rest and relax.
- Music can enhance memory, concentration, and cognitive development.
- Music can soothe negative moods, such as depression, sadness, anger, and grief.
- Music is used as therapy for special needs and to promote healing with certain conditions and diseases
- Music can bring exhilaration, joy, fun, and feelings of well-being.
- Music can help improve physical endurance and cardio conditioning if used with exercise.
- Music can transform the atmosphere of our homes!
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| That’s my girl! She is playing Taps for the military ball here. |
There is so much more! However, the real test is to try it for yourself. Sample new styles of music that you have not considered in the past. Here is how I use music in my home:
- I usually turn on the smooth jazz station softly before my husband comes home from work. Combine that with the lighted candles (from day 1), the soft lighting, flowers, and a clean home, my husband walks through the door and raves about what a good mood that atmosphere puts him in after a stressful day. It is so peaceful and beautiful!
- I play worship music throughout the day to bombard the airwaves with praise and worship to God. Sometimes it is very upbeat, and sometimes I enjoy soft and passionate worship music. He inhabits our praise, and His presence is very welcome and noticeable in our home when I play it.
- As a teacher, I usually played classical music during quiet work sessions to improve student concentration. I also played it often for my own children when we home schooled, and each one of them still loves great classical music.
- When I clean house, I love to play loud classic rock or disco music to get moving. I am a child of the 70’s, and I still love the music of that era!
- When I want to be in a tranquil mood, I love to listen to Michael Buble’. What a voice!
- My husband and I listen to the Sinatra station often in the car. We also flip over to the love song station and the 70’s station. Thank God for Sirius radio!
- My daughter and I listen to contemporary Christian music every morning before school to set our minds on starting each day on a positive note.
- When I am in a fun mood, I absolutely love country music! It puts me in a good mood!
- My favorite is that my daughter plays the piano and gives me a concert in the evenings. What a blessing!
Do you see how different styles of music can bring different results? It is easy to get stuck on favorite groups or genres, but I urge you to taste test a variety. I also recommend being picky about choosing a positive message that will lift your spirits and not agitate or depress everyone within listening range.
I certainly did not give you an exhaustive list of musical genres; there are so many more! As far as I am concerned, as long as it is excellent quality and has a positive message, I can love it no matter what style it is. So, keep an open mind, and try something new!
Here is a good start: Turn on the smooth jazz station softly during dinner time tonight. Make sure it is not too loud to carry on a conversation. It should be tastefully in the background.
Enjoy my video, and have fun with today’s challenge! Be sure to join me tomorrow for the sense of touch. I will cover two topics, “The Comfort of Home, and Romancing the Bedroom.” It’s going to be great!
Thank you, and God bless you and your home!
Shari Lewis
