Making Room for Home this holiday
By Alison Emery
The refrain to a classic Christmas song intones, “Oh there’s no place like home for the holidays.” For some of us, this sentiment is absolutely true. When we think of “home,” we envision safety and love, good food and good company. Being cared for and caring for others. Enjoying sweet moments together that create lasting, heart-warming memories.
Yet for others, the word “home” evokes a different meaning. Disorientation or fear. Distrust or guardedness. Apprehension or grief. Perhaps having a true “home,” a place to feel safe, loved, and belong, was never a reality for you. Or home looks differently now that a cherished loved one is no longer present. Maybe your definition of “home” has shifted because you’re living in a country or culture that is different from where you grew up.
In the incarnation, God took on human flesh in the form of Jesus Christ. I love this description of the miraculous event: “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” (John 1:14 (MSG)) How intimate and personal is our God! Instead of detachedly hovering on the fringes of our lives, our servant-Savior made His home among us. He gathers us close. He deeply longs to dwell with us in the busyness, chaos, loneliness, and every-dayness of life. Ordinary meeting extraordinary in real time.
Scripture makes clear in so many other passages that the Lord of the universe wants to make His home with and in us. But not just that – He wants to BE home to us. No matter how confusing, frustrating, overwhelming, or unholy the world around us becomes, we carry home in our hearts as His children. When we don’t feel at home, or even understand what home is, His Kingdom is our true home, and we dwell in it through Christ in us.
Another word for being at home in the Lord is “abide.” In John 15, Jesus reiterates how we abide with Him and He with us: “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home [abide] in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.” (John 15:9-10 (MSG))
The outflow of this abiding, this carrying home in our hearts, is drawing others into “home” when we are Christ to them through our words and actions. Do you know someone who is lonely or grieving this holiday season? Perhaps a neighbor or friend who has suffered loss this year. A co-worker whose perspective on family or home has changed because of a divorce or separation. A student whose family lives in another country and can’t go home for the holidays. Maybe someone at your church who you know has been going through a hard time this year.
Consider inviting them to coffee or to a holiday gathering that you’re hosting. Perhaps buy them a gift card or create a “comfort basket” for them (with cozy items like a blanket, warm socks, hot chocolate, and a handwritten note). Share a meal together or bring them baked treats or home-cooked food. Do a holiday craft together (like making ornaments or baking cookies). Invite them for a cozy evening of fun, laughter, or your favorite Christmas films. Offer to help them with their shopping, cooking, or wrapping gifts, especially if they’re feeling overwhelmed. Create space to hear their experiences and stories so that they feel safe, seen, and heard. Learn about their cultural holiday practices and share them together. Offer to pray with them or invite them to your church for Christmas services, if appropriate.
Our resource “Identify Your Circle of Influence” can help you be more intentional in loving your neighbor well (download here). This worksheet helps you identify the people whom you connect with regularly so that you can pray over their names and allow the Lord to show you who you can serve or encourage in this season.
As disciples of Jesus, we get to live out the truth of the incarnation by reflecting His intimate and personal presence in our lives. Just as Jesus "moved into the neighborhood" and made His home among us, we are called to be present and engaged in the lives of those around us. This means showing love, compassion, and humility in our everyday interactions, embracing the ordinary moments as opportunities to reveal the extraordinary love of God.
