I believe that every person has, as strange as it may sound, an aura. This aura radiates from them to affect for good or ill everyone who comes in contact with them. Now, not only is this true of individuals, but so also is it true of families and homes, especially those obedient to the Lord in family prayer and scripture study. This I have learned by my own personal experience.

Years ago as a young college student, I was invited one weekend by a beautiful young woman to go with her and her family on an outing. I scarcely knew her, and her family not at all.

We arrived late, introductions were made, and I was given the den in which to bed down for the night.

I remember the next morning that I awoke early and I heard something of a commotion from outside my room coming from the direction of the family room. When I went out to investigate, I was promptly invited to participate with the family in family prayer and scripture study. Now, you have to understand that religion at this time for me was a relatively new thing. I was amazed! – I had never actually seen such a thing take place before, especially like this. As I looked around the room, I saw those two wonderful parents holding children on their lap, and eleven children in all ranging in age from about 4 up to 21, all awake and in various stages of alertness, and all but one of them was fully dressed and ready for the day’s activities – and all of this at a time of day on a Saturday morning when most people are still asleep.

Well, I don’t know if anyone in that family remembers that day, or that I was even there, but I know I’ll never forget. I felt the spirit of God in that home that day, and was deeply moved by the love and acceptance I felt from them. They helped change the course of my life. Such an impact did they have on me that day, that I vowed then and there, God willing, that I would do all I could to create such a home of my own. Heaven only knows how I’ve done.