“We’re almost home!” my daughter texted me, letting me know she was on her way back from her friend’s house. We were visiting California for Thanksgiving and my husband Mike had just gone to pick her up.
When I saw her text, I smiled.
Because we weren’t actually home; we were staying in a hotel.
Our house–as of five months ago when Mike’s job got transferred–was now in Idaho. Spending time in a hotel over the holidays was a new experience for us and we were going from place to place, trying to fit in as many visits with friends and family as we could.
But to my daughter that night, the hotel room was home. Because that’s where we were, together.
And it reminded me of that saying: Home is where the heart is.
Maybe you’ve had a big move in your life, too. Maybe you’re in a place of transition right now–or in the middle of change–and you’re worried that Christmas won’t feel the same this year. Or maybe you’ll be spending Christmas on the road, like we did for Thanksgiving.
Worry not, sweet mom.
A home for the holidays isn’t about location and address.
It’s about the love you have for each other and how you spend your time together.
See, home can happen anywhere – in the grandest of palaces, or a hotel room in California.
Home is simply where love grows.
So how do you make a holiday home for your family this Christmas, no matter where you are? (And we’re not talking crafts, decorations and presents):
1. Draw your family close. Do activities together and savor the time together. Even if you’re on the road or in a temporary place this Christmas, you can still grab some special time with your kids or do one thing with just your family.
2. Hold onto traditions. You don’t have to be in the same location every year to continue your family traditions. Be intentional about keeping traditions alive. Even in a new place or when you are visiting others, you can still go see Christmas lights or watch that holiday movie together.
3. Let the music play. Listen to Christmas carols. This one is super practical, but the beautiful words and sounds of Christmas carols can bring joy and peace to your family anywhere, and can create a sense of home and familiarity from holidays past.
4. Reach out and help others. No matter where you are, there is always someone you can help, even if it’s in the smallest of ways. Involve your kids in finding someone to bless, and watch holiday hope spread, right where you are.
5. Focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Talk to your kids about Jesus and the real reason for Christmas. When our focus is on what Christmas is about–For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that all who believe in him shall not perish, but shall have enternal life. John 3:16–we are grounded in love, no matter where we spend the holiday.
By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. –Proverbs 24:3-4
What about you? Will you be on the road or in a new place this Christmas? What are some things you’ve done that have helped to make a holiday home for your family over the years? Take a minute and share!
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