Home: a place of safety, a refuge, a comforting place where I can be me. During this Christmas season, people’s thoughts are toward home. One of the Christmas songs, “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays” says it pretty well. Home may be large or it may be small; richly furnished or barely furnished at all, but if love dwells there, it is home.
I’ve thought many times that real estate people who advertise homes for sale are mistaken. Houses are not homes. Houses can be bought and sold; not homes. A home is made up of people or maybe just one person with memories or hopes or dreams. Perhaps a home is only a bed and a few square feet of floor space but to someone, it is food, shelter, safety, and home.
Houses fascinate me, houses with long histories, houses of famous people, large houses. I am especially entranced by abandoned houses, those that are falling down and sadly neglected. But, do you know the first thing I think when I see any of these houses? I wonder if love lived within those walls. I wonder if they echoed with laughter and resonated with the grief, pains, hopes, triumphs and warmth of family.
Homes and nations have enemies bent on destruction. Hatred, envy, violence would like nothing better than to destroy what they can’t have. Attacking homes and the people within, destroying and scattering hopes, dreams and safety is the mission of some. As long as our homes and our country have a bed-rock solid foundation of faith in God, faith and love and acceptance for each other, we will withstand any assault, any storm.
Home is a place where people know me and accept me for what I am, no more and no less. If I make mistakes, home does not put me out, home forgives and gathers me close. Others may turn their backs or give up on me or ridicule; not home. Home is made up of family or friends or memories and hopes and dreams. There is always a place for me at home. It is where love lives.
Exactly! But i think home is also a feeling. A feeling of belonging and so it can travel with you and with whomever gives you that feeling of belonging and acceptance and love.
Very good thought, Missy. That would be memories; and just knowing that you are part of people who love you for exactly who you are. For example, you are my niece and no matter where you are or I am, you are family and I love you.
Mmm-hmm. And I you. And that is why, whenever we’re together, we are home. No matter where we may be physically. Home.
That’s a sweet thing to say. I think it’s a feeling passed down to us by Mom and Dad. It’s a good feeling.