How can one write about home in just five minutes? For it is all that happens within these walls and all that we learn here that we carry throughout the earth.
Home is where we figure out who we are and to whom we belong. It’s where we paint pictures of what is most important, the floating hearts and the rainbows and people with crazy hair holding hands.
It’s where we are reminded that we are beautiful, thoughtful, strong and brave. It’s where we learn that we are world changers and that we can do hard things.
Home is where the bones are laid in place — the skeleton that we will hang life’s skin on.
Home is meals around the table and sharing our cherries and pits. It is the freedom to fall undone in a pile and know love is still waiting in those arms, that kiss, those eyes that understand.
Home is the place of dance parties and yelling too loud. It is the place of complaints about dinner and counting down to birthdays. It is chaos and days stretching long and flying by in a blur.
Home is peace gathered round the story. Home is where we learn to cheer for each other, trying to appreciate who she is and who I am and how we are safe here.
And here, perfect is not the point. Perfect is not the point.
Home is where we work it out — struggle and screw up and ask forgiveness and learn to love and give it away.
And there’s no place like it.
Tough to limit myself to five minutes today. Thank you for your grace that sees into the gaps. I’m joining up again with the Five Minute Friday community of friends over at Lisa-Jo‘s where we write for five minutes, refrain from extreme editing and encourage one another freely. Today began with the prompt: HOME. Would you like to join us? Happy weekend, dear ones.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
![Sometimes nothing says it quite like the way of a child. Before the rest of the house wakes, I read the account of Easter morning in the Jesus Storybook Bible: "And it seemed to [Mary Magdalene] that morning, as she ran, almost as if the whole world was singing for joy-- the trees, tiny sounds in the grass, the birds...her heart." The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive, and so are we. And it is new. Once again. Yes, it is always new...He is risen indeed!](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s320x320/e35/17934124_1877271335863004_8139172358331039744_n.jpg "Sometimes nothing says it quite like the way of a child. Before the rest of the house wakes, I read the account of Easter morning in the Jesus Storybook Bible: \"And it seemed to [Mary Magdalene] that morning, as she ran, almost as if the whole world was singing for joy-- the trees, tiny sounds in the grass, the birds...her heart.\" The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive, and so are we. And it is new. Once again. Yes, it is always new...He is risen indeed!")
I think you did a great job of describing home – yes, a huge topic for only five minutes. Fortunately, as you said, perfect is not the point, here or at home!
Thanks for your visit, Maureen. Yes, so many volumes have been written of home, and there are more left to write. Good to have connected with you through FMF.
You hit it right on! That is definitely what home is! Lovely, lovely!
So glad that resonates, dear Angela. :)
How DO you do it Ashley? Given an 8-hour day I couldn’t think of a thing that home IS that you haven’t named. These few things summed it up better than I could ever hope to: “Home is where we figure out who we are and to whom we belong.” and “It is the freedom to fall undone in a pile and know love is still waiting.” and ” Perfect is not the point.” and this: Home is where we learn to love and give it away. So beautiful, so true. Such love I’ve learned with you! xox
“Home is where the bones are laid in place — the skeleton that we will hang life’s skin on.” So powerful and true. It is where we are shaped, urged to grow, often bent for better or worse. Loved this, Ashley. (Also, my friend, have you heard Chris Tomlin’s new song, Awake My Soul, with Lecrae? YouTube it. I think you will like it. Great for dance parties too. :))
Well Said, Quiet Girl!
I’ve not heard it, Allison. I do need to You Tube it. We need some more tunes in our dance party repertoire. :)
Beatutiful! ” Home is where we learn to love and give it away!” Will remember these words and put them on my wall. You are such an amazing writer the words just flow from you always in a beautiful way.
Thank you, Mom! I’ve learned so much about home by the way you welcome and always make me feel as if your place is mine, and ours.
Dear Ashley
Yes, your memories of home give one permission to just let your hair hang loose and be yourself. Not everyone has this privilege and find home quite a frightening place!
Blessings and love to you
Mia
I do hope we can feel free in this place to be ourselves. In our imperfections, our highest moments and lowest lows, and that in feeling that freedom, we will be able to pass on the gift of love and home to others. Thank you, friend.
Yes! Yes to all of this! And this: “Home is where we work it out — struggle and screw up and ask forgiveness and learn to love and give it away.” AMEN! I have lived this in the past few years… Home sometimes has to be fought for… but it’s always always worth it!
You are so right, Karrilee. Yes, sometimes home does have to be fought for! But that effort, that love poured out is never wasted! Bless you, friend.
I love your 5 Minute Friday’s!
I enjoy them, too. Thanks so much, Uncle. :)
“Home is where we learn to work it all out”-yes. I hope my own family knows that though we aren’t perfect they are in a safe place to figure out who they are and where they want to go.
Yes, yes!
This is so well done, Ashley…loving the part about sharing our cherries and our pits and falling undone in a pile. And about not perfect…because YES. Thank you.
Feeling and resonating with every sentence and word picture here.
“Home is peace gathered round a story” stands above them all for me.
Cheers,
Leah
Home is where the bones are laid in place — the skeleton that we will hang life’s skin on. Oh this… my friend is like opening the door to home… I love your writing and the way you bless me with your words {Hugs}
I’m just savoring your words… so rich and full and alive, skimming the surface and diving deep, all in five minutes. I love you so.
I have too many favorite lines in this one to even pick what struck me most. This post makes me want to sit beneath your roof and just savor the noise!
You ladies bless me with your words. Thank you for telling me what resonates. That helps me in so many ways.