Building a “Home Court Advantage” at Home
I was very grateful and encouraged by my wife’s & my family couple days ago. My wife Ha called her mom to share that our daughter Aria is down with diarrhea & fever. Within a few hours, it seemed many in the family knew and called to express their concern. Ha’s mom came over and spent the afternoon while her sister’s family came by immediately after work just to see Aria.
My dad (who is a doctor) & my mom also called us every few hours to check on Aria’s condition and offered advice.
I am now beginning to understand the importance of having a home court advantage at home. Zig Ziglar wrote about how important it is for him to have this environment.
A home court advantage at home is where we know we have the wholehearted support of our family to face any season of life together.
Wouldn't be great if our homes are a place of generous encouragement?
As I reflect on our families’ response in the last few days, I realized building a home court advantage has to be very intentional.
We don’t always build a home court advantage but end up doing the opposite. Our spouse/children would rather be outside than at home because they feel no support, no encouragement, no understanding. Perhaps they often get criticized, judged and ignored.
Ziglar once said “Kids go where there is excitement. They stay where there is love.” I believe that’s true for all of us, not just the kids!
We want a place where we are accepted and can be ourselves. We want a place we can run to in the storms or earthquakes of life. We want a place we know we truly belong, regardless of the season we are in. We want a place where we can always find the confidence to win.
Ha and I strongly believe in the importance of a home court advantage. I am very grateful we both are committed to build one where we can truly grow and flourish. Ha teaches Aria to greet me with great enthusiasm whenever I get home. I feel like a champion just to be home!
So how does a GREAT home court advantage look like? I believe it would have the culture of…
Unconditional Encouragement
What is unconditional encouragement? Put simply, it is to encourage without any strings attached. It is to encourage regardless of whether the person deserves it or not.
True supporters are always ready to cheer for their team, even if the team has been performing badly. They believe in going on the journey together. Rain or shine, they show up to cheer their hearts out!
We can begin building this home court advantage when..
We always choose to see the champion in our spouse and children & treat them like champions consistently.
We always choose to listen & understand their heart first before jumping to conclusions or making assumptions.
We praise loudly in public & correct softly in private.
We KILL blaming, critizing & gossip in our home.
We generously SHOW encouragement in our words, actions & going the extra mile for our family.
We are willing to sacrifice our own desires for the family.
