Our pastor is currently presenting a sermon series based off the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32.)  Drawing from his insight into the parable he came up with 3 definitions of home.

Home is… where you can be, or find, your true identify — I belong.

Jazz and Bird, they have many similarities to me being biologically from me.  Bird is a weird combination of Vati and myself (although I did see some Nana today.)  But you can tell she’s related to us.  She acts like us.  She looks like us.

Jazz, on the other hand, has some of Vati’s personality characteristics but still has a lot of behaviors from her biological dad.  Things that are just inborn to her regardless of with who she was raised.

They will each have to find their true identity separate of us eventually, but will always have their foundation in us.

Now, bring in a child that has no biological ties to either of us.  Likes, dislikes, personality, patterns of life, that are inborn to them and/or acquired from their time before us, and quite possibility at the opposite end of the spectrum from us.  We have to be a home where they can be and find their true identify and yet still belong.

Home is… where you receive affirmations of love from the Father — I’m accepted.

And of course from the mother.  Home is where we have to provide a foundational love.  Not the love that gives them toys, but the love of 1 Corinthians 13, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

These are, at times, hard actions to do!  These aren’t superficial feelings but day in and day out actions.  And despite whatever trauma a child comes with they have to be accepted and loved where they are at, not where I expect them to be.

Home is… where you are loved unconditionally because of who you are.

I first read this and thought, “What a fuzzy warm heart feeling… loving someone because of who they are.” But then I realized I made a massive note-taking error.  Pastor said, “Home is where you are loved unconditionally because of WHOSE you are.”  Big difference.

Home is… where you are loved unconditionally because of WHOSE you are.

Nuff said.