It’s more than a movie slogan: ‘There’s no place like home’

By Kristy Solis, NOLA Catholic Parenting

One night my family was watching a classic family movie that spans time, “The Wizard of Oz.” The endearing line, replayed over and over, is  this: “There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home!”

When you hear this declaration about home, what does that mean to you? Have you asked your child, “Where is home?”

That night, I asked that question to my daughters.

My older daughter said, “Home is with my family: my mama, my pop pop, my sissy and my papa.” My younger daughter said, “Home is with Jesus.”

Needless to say, both answers were quite different, yet both were accurate.

Throughout life, we seek a home or homes, whether it is a personal home, a family home, a home for friends, a church home or a work home.

In this life, I am blessed to have all of the above. Each of these is a place of yearning to belong.

What is the common denominator of all of these homes? Jesus! He is in each and every facet of home.  Simply, “home” cannot exist without Jesus.

I am blessed to call each of these dwellings home.  As well, I am fortunate that I am able to carry Jesus and worship Jesus in each of these homes. This is my hope for my daughters, as they travel through life seeking the homes in their lives – that Jesus is at the heart of these places of being.

Now back to my daughters’ answers to this seemingly simple question. You may have noticed, neither one of them referenced a brick-and-mortar building. How profound! Both of them related to a home that lies inside each of us: A family unit and Jesus.

In this moment, the lesson I imparted to my children is that on earth, these homes are temporary.

Jesus is at home in our being until the time comes to join him in our real home of heaven.  The girls were so excited and said they could not wait to go to their real homes.  I reminded them that this is “All in God’s timing!” To be honest, I hope they never lose their zealousness to seek out Jesus.    

Jesus reminds us through his words: Anyone who  loves me will obey my teachings. My father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him (John 14:23).

Jesus promises there will be a place for us … there will be a home for each of us. One day, “There will be no place like home!”

Once again, think about it for yourself or ask your child, “Where is home?”

Let us pray, “Lord help us to continue to seek that Jesus makes a home within us, while he prepares a home for each of us for eternity.”

Kristy Solis grew up in Meraux. She graduated from Our Lady of Holy Cross with a bachelor of science in nursing and from Loyola University New Orleans with a master of science in nursing. She received a doctor of education in executive leadership from the University of Holy Cross. She has practiced as a registered nurse and a family nurse practitioner with a concentration in adult health. After Katrina, she discovered a passion for  nursing education and serves full-time as a nursing faculty member at the University of Holy Cross. Kristy’s husband is a chief warrant officer in United States Army. They have two young daughters and one young-at-heart papa. Kristy’s three favorite things to do with her family are pray together, travel and experience new restaurants.

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