Today I move on to the second principle in Devi Titus’ book, “The Home Experience”, the Also Principle.
The basic idea for the Also Principle is to understand how the Lord’s rewards are received and passed on in your life through the application of this biblical attitude. That is exactly what it pertains to – your attitude, our willingness to serve others even when it is inconvenient. This principle is demonstrated throughout scripture and always relates to character, obedience and inheritance.
Do these phrases sound familiar?
- “Ah, that’s good enough”
- “That’ll do”
- “Well, I’ve done all that I’m going to do”
- “That’s not my responsibility”
How do you think these kinds of responses have impacted your spouse, children or friends? These kinds of attitudes and thoughts indicate you can improve your life by applying the Also Principle.
By incorporating this Also Principle into your daily life you build your character in such a way that you become a do-more person rather than a do-less person. Who wouldn’t want to be known as that kind of person? A do-more attitude will grow your faith, relationships and ultimately release a joy in your life that only God can.
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the Lord
Rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord
You will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Colossians 3:23-24 NASB (emphasis added)
This verse is telling us to put our minds to whatever we do and to NOT do our work with a halfhearted attitude, but rather add the also to those tasks.
As Family Managers and Keepers of the Home, we have many opportunities where we could also do more. By adding those extra touches, going the extra step you can create a sanctuary in your home that your family will enjoy living in. How do you think this might change those in your home? Here are some examples of adding the Also Principle in your home:
- When you clean up dinner dishes, shine the sink also.
- When you finish your shower, leave the tub clean also.
- When you use the toilet, put down the lid also.
- When you finish getting ready in the morning, put away your makeup items, also.
- When you are in the garden, pick some flowers for your table, also.
- When you pour yourself a cup of coffee, pour your spouse one also.
- When you dish yourself up ice cream, dish some for your daughter, also.
- When you make the bed in the morning, put decorative pillows on it, also.
- When you serve dinner put the food in serving dishes rather than pots and pans, also.
Can you see that this type of behavior could be contagious in your home? If your children observe you doing the “extra” instead of just making do, you will be exhibiting exactly what you would like them to take into adulthood.
You can do this other areas of your life as well. I concentrated on what you can do in your home and tried to show the impact you could have just in that small environment. By doing the little extra things just because rather than from a place of feeling that they are “musts” you may very well surprise yourself with how these little things that really don’t take that much time end up giving you a more pleasant attitude and that too will be contagious!
