Several years ago, my brother-in-law paid me the biggest compliment. He doesn't know it. I never told him. But, I have held onto his words for many years. His family had come to visit us. Their kids and our kids loved playing together. One day after visiting, he said, "I don't know what you have done here, but your home is a comfortable place to be. We all feel very welcome here." I don't know what we did either. But, it is certainly a place where people have gathered.
When our kids were young, their friends came to our house. Maybe it is because I let them dig in the garden with our spoons and forks. Maybe it is because we let them go rock hunting under the trees. Maybe it is because we let them climb trees. Maybe it is because we let them build forts with every blanket and chair available. Maybe it is because we had an unlimited supply of Kool-aid and popsicles. Maybe it is because we had a seasonal swimming pool. Maybe it is because they could dig holes deeper than the kids were tall and fill with water for the ultimate mud bath. Maybe it was because people knew they were loved and cared for when they entered our doors. Whatever it was, and is, people come. Even the teenagers liked to come - I think that is saying something. Our gathering spots are small. They crowd in. Our technology is minimal. They stay anyway. Our seating is never enough. They sit on the ground. And they stay. We love it.
Our home isn't fashionable, but it is mostly clean. Our home isn't new, but it is standing. Our home isn't in a gated community, but our doors are always open. Our home is welcome to anyone who wants to come. That is exactly what we want it to be.
When our kids were young, their friends came to our house. Maybe it is because I let them dig in the garden with our spoons and forks. Maybe it is because we let them go rock hunting under the trees. Maybe it is because we let them climb trees. Maybe it is because we let them build forts with every blanket and chair available. Maybe it is because we had an unlimited supply of Kool-aid and popsicles. Maybe it is because we had a seasonal swimming pool. Maybe it is because they could dig holes deeper than the kids were tall and fill with water for the ultimate mud bath. Maybe it was because people knew they were loved and cared for when they entered our doors. Whatever it was, and is, people come. Even the teenagers liked to come - I think that is saying something. Our gathering spots are small. They crowd in. Our technology is minimal. They stay anyway. Our seating is never enough. They sit on the ground. And they stay. We love it.
Our home isn't fashionable, but it is mostly clean. Our home isn't new, but it is standing. Our home isn't in a gated community, but our doors are always open. Our home is welcome to anyone who wants to come. That is exactly what we want it to be.
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