What makes a home?

There is a song that we used to sing in kindergarten. It goes:

“Have you ever seen four letters, four little letters?

Have you ever seen four letters, H-O-M-E, Home, home?

H stands for Happiness;

O – Obedience;

M for Mommy;

E – Everybody;

H-O-M-E, home home.”

We also sang another which goes:

“With Jesus in the family, happy, happy home;

Happy, happy, home; happy, happy home.

With Jesus in the family; happy, happy home;

Happy, happy home”

It is so amazing how people define their homes. For some it has to be a mansion, with fine décor, expensive and imported fabric and furniture, not crowded with relatives. With a big garage, a car for everybody, all bedrooms with en suites, a guest house, a gym, and a swimming pool – the list goes on. One observation about such a description is that it is materialistic. This will mean that the financially challenged will never have a home. As for me, I beg to differ. Materials are not what make up a home. I would rather borrow some attributes from the kindergarten songs mentioned above.

The first thing to a happy home is Jesus. He is the solution of every problem in our lives. Moreover, He is the one who is able to direct our paths, to give us inward peace amidst all trials and afflictions, and He is able to save us to the uttermost. He is the one who can lead us to fulfillment in all we do. He says in Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” All these things referred to by the verse are the material possessions necessary for our sustenance. “Except the Lord builds a house, they labor in vain that build it.” (Psalm127:1). Let God be the center of your home.

All the other attributes will then follow if you have Jesus in you. These include but not limited to cheerfulness, kindness, mercy towards each other, love, happiness, being serene, order, smartness, obedience, and also doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Each member’s role in the family is very important in order to make a house a happy home. With Jesus, we can turn a house into a home. Pull your fair share and see the working of God in your home.