Home: /hom/: noun

1. A place where one lives; a residence.
2. The physical structure within which one lives, such as a house or apartment.
3. A dwelling place together with the family or social unit that occupies it.
4. An environment offering security and happiness.
5. A valued place regarded as a refuge or place of origin.
6. The place, such as a country or town, where one was born or has lived for a long period.
7. The native habitat, as of a plant or animal.
8. The place where something is discovered, founded, developed, or promoted, a source.

These definitions of home come from the American Heritage Dictionary 5th edition. As I have taught English class the last 8 months definitions had importance. I learned to use so many different words because I needed to convey what a word meant. For instance, if I said, “immense”. My students have never heard this word before so I give as many synonyms as I can and follow it up with an example or two.

This is what I need to do now for myself with the word home. Perhaps I feel like my students. People are saying, “welcome home” to us and my brain is familiar with the word but I am suddenly unsure of what it actually means. Am I home? I don’t feel like I am in many ways.

I’m in America again, according to one of the definitions this is our home-our place of origin. And I am deeply thankful and proud of that origin. According to another definition a place offering security and happiness well, one walk through the O’Hare security line and there was no security or happiness being offered I assure you. So many people seem so angry here.

My brain is tired. So, I decided to make my own definitions and give you, or maybe myself, some examples.

My home: noun

1. The physical state of being with my husband and 3 boys together.
2. A place where you give and receive love.
3. Heaven-the final destination for my soul.

Now it’s making sense and computing better for me. These definitions are accurate for me. We just left our home. We left a place where we poured out and abundantly received love. And our hearts are broken at the separation. Yet we also came to a place where people love us and have missed us and it’s somehow homey feeling. All along every single step I was home because I had my husband and 3 boys by my side and they are always home to me.

Yet, my entire earthly life will fall short of truly feeling home. Though all of these experiences and glimpses of home are wonderful gifts, I will never feel fully at home until I reach Heaven and I am forever with my Savior. Then and probably only then will I not feel confused but will finally agree with Dorothy that there’s no place like home.