The Atmosphere We Carry

Cozy. Warm. Bright. Cheerful. These are words that we usually put to describe the atmosphere of our homes. But atmosphere is what we carry with us wherever we go. It is not just when we invite people into our home. It's when we invite them into our spaces, into our smile, into our presence. John 13:35 says that people will know us by our love one for another.

We have all been around that person who everyone wants to sign up for best friend status. Yes, please! Why? They used non-verbals and intonation to genuinely care about others and deflect from their center of attention. And we have all been around that person that has underwhelming non-verbals that say, "You're not welcome here. Don't trespass." Which person are we? Which person do we want to be? Which person does Jesus want us to be?

When you meet someone new and engage in conversation, do you worry about sounding intelligent? Worry about saying something goofy? Sure, we all do. What we forget is that people will remember how we made them feel more than what silly mistake we might say or what mispronunciation we might make out loud. They won't remember those things but they will walk away with a sense of encouragement or a sense of discouragement based on our atmosphere. So, take it with you. It's too great a thing to just leave at home.

About the author: Angie Lambert is a wife and mother of three. She is a director at a local Christian early learning center and enjoys being with her family, being on the family farm, and working in her yard. Her passion for Christian education and emotionally healthy living drive her to read, listen to messages, and take courses on related subject matter.