There’s No Place Like Home

Mom decided after a quick weekend getaway from Charleston to stop by town to cook Sunday dinner before heading back to Atlanta for family fellowship. My mom waltzed in with grocery bags filled with what she was prepping for our impromptu dinner that she was sure to throw down on in making herself at home in the kitchen. I can remember growing up as a little girl in thinking about my dream home in not being particular about the size, color, or even its permanent location. I thought about how my home would make my family and I feel along with those who entered. Luther Vandross sang it best when he belted,” A House Is Not A Home” with so much conviction. I believe that regardless of the size of the house or the diversity of the family’s dynamics within the walls that we have the responsibility in creating a home with warmth, peace, and safety, where love resides and memories are made.

Size & Location

I’ve had the privilege of entering many homes, and I can tell you that regardless of the space or zip code, some homes radiate warmth and love. I’ve also entered homes that felt sterile and cold, lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. My daughter befriended one of my students, and they eagerly arranged a playdate. As I picked up my student, she marveled at our humble abode, and I equally admired her home. Many of my students face financial challenges, but this student’s family welcomed us with open arms, making their home feel incredibly inviting. As I reflect on my childhood, I cherish memories of a tiny home near my grandparents’ house, a place I fondly recall as my childhood haven.

Different Safety

Most of us will agree that we want our homes to be a haven of safety, a refuge from danger, the elements, crime, and other unpredictable challenges. I’ve learned that creating a safe home is about fostering an environment where those who enter, and more importantly those who live there, feel comforted and at peace. I recall a girlfriend from years ago, a single mom with three teens, who was stressed to the max. She reached out to me, and I could hear the desperation in her voice, so I immediately invited her to my home. As we sat together, I saw her exhaustion melt away, and she fell into a peaceful sleep on my couch. Years later, I befriended a kind-hearted dance mom who would often invite my family and me to dinner at her lovely home. Her warm hospitality made her house feel like a second home to me, a place where I could rest my spirit and recharge. My teen nephew, who lived with me for a time, always referred to our house as home, a place where he could stop by, enjoy a hot meal, and receive motivation to stay on the right path, all in a judgment-free zone.

What Home Isn’t

Home isn’t about having the most immaculate space. I always have a load to fold over here. Home isn’t about living in the most prestigious district as we’ve seen many famous celebrities in mansions that have been open with sharing loneliness, sadness, and emptiness despite their wealth. Home isn’t necessary a place; home could as well be a person. Home is a feeling, it’s a taste, it’s an emotion, it’s a memory, and it’s something that no matter where we get lost we always come back to.