For the first 25 years of my life, I considered our family dairy farm to be my home. It was a safe place that I could always return to. The small brown house I lived in for 3 years during college was my house but never my home. I didn't bother to make it feel like anything other than temporary. And even though I loved the apartment my best friend and I shared during my first year of teaching, it wasn’t home. With the security of the home farm to catch me, those other places were simply stepping blocks on my way to finding my forever home.
My husband and I bought our current house three years ago. Like most young couples, we moved into a starter home knowing we would outgrow it one day. Once again, a temporary stepping block. But this house quickly felt like a home to me.
I always thought a house became a home through home-cooked meals, natural cleaning products, and aesthetic furniture/decor. But it took months of living in the space to find the perfect furniture and decor, build up my confidence in the kitchen, and swap out the cleaning products. This house unexpectedly felt like home well before I had it all mastered.
As I reflected on the art of homemaking, I found myself pondering the Holy Family’s journey and their temporary housing locations before they settled down in Nazareth.
How did Mary make the manger scene a cozy home for her newborn son in Bethlehem? Without an aesthetic nursery and a comfortable rocking chair, where did Mary rock her baby to sleep? How did she organize her kitchen to prepare meals for her family when her home used to be animal lodging? What was her vision for hosting the shepherds when they came to pay homage to her newborn son? (Gospel of Luke 2:1-20).
How did the Holy Family make their stay in Egypt feel comfortable when nothing felt familiar? How did Joseph create a sense of security when they were forced to flee to protect their son? How did St. Joseph confidently listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit instead of relying on his humanity to provide for his family? (Gospel of Matthew Matthew 2:13–23).
There is no doubt that the Holy Family, despite facing numerous challenges and living in less-than-ideal circumstances, transformed those unlikely places into a loving and nurturing home. Their humble dwelling did not have the most ascetic home decor or freshly baked bread at every meal. Instead, it was filled with love, faith, and a profound sense of togetherness.
As we enter into the Advent season—a time of reflection, anticipation, and preparation—may we draw inspiration from the Holy Family's extraordinary capacity to discover love and establish a home in their unexpected environment. May we be able to transform the most unlikely corners of our hearts into a warm and inviting home for the Christ Child.
Until next time, your sister in Christ,
Abby
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