Simple Things: Home
Sure, home is where the heart is. It wouldn’t be an adage if it wasn’t so. As I dissect that expression, though, I realize that the flip is true as well. Maybe truer, for me.
Heart is where the home is.
My home is my heart’s compass. Like a bird, I carefully construct a nest, comfortable and warm and safe. I wander, but not too far. I stand sentry at home’s gate, guarding all that is dear to me: my loves, Shane and Easton, our dog, our garden, and our things, meticulously collected. I am the caretaker of home. My job is to unite us in this age of disconnect. Also to keep us fed, organized, and smelling good, if I’m speaking practically.
I do realize I am the one promoting all things lovely, but - surprise! - a home does not have to be visually inspiring to be beautiful. Some things are lovely in a deeper sense. Things like loyalty, communication, and support are the best tools for building a beautiful home. However, the greatest of these tools is love, closely followed by faith. A home built on a firm foundation can endure exponentially more than homes built on an unsteady foundation. (Matthew 7:24)
I’ve lived in a lot of homes, across three states. No matter where they are located physically, when I am absent, my heart is always tethered to my home, like a balloon, floating but always grounded.
Simple things.
Curious? For more on making a successful family home, the leading authority is Dr. James Dobson, of Focus On the Family. Hint: it has nothing to do with curb appeal or decorating.