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Home is Where the Heart Is {5 minute friday}

Ghana, Africa

Charleston, SC

Sometimes I wonder how much of our self esteem is wrapped up in the appearance of our home.   When we bought our first house, without a realtor, simply walked into a for sale by owner home that felt like home and said we'll take it, we had never felt prouder.  It wasn't long before those four walls seemed to shrink with the arrival of two baby boys and home wasn't homey anymore.  

When I look at the photo of the shanty home in Ghana above, I feel ashamed to have been ashamed of our tiny first house.  We may have had mismatched appliances, Grandma's old furniture, and painted over wallpaper but we also had a yard and a fence and a safe neighborhood to rest within.  

Home is a place to shelter the ones we love from the chill of the wind and world.  Most Americans have that no matter how small or grand their home may appear.

Home should at the very least mean safe and comforting.   
Beautiful is a luxury many people don't have but who is to say they don't love being home?  Because home is where the heart is and that cannot be captured on film.







Every Friday a five minute, un-edited freewrite on the topic of The Gypsy Mama's choice.  
Stop by and see what others say about HOME this week.


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Comments

  1. KimberlyJune 17, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    I am so guilty of this...wishing bigger, better, more, when I am so richly blessed. Great reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Belva Rae StaplesJune 17, 2011 at 7:56 AM

    You're right! Home is so much more than boards, shingles, windows, doors and the possessions contained within. It's a sense of safety and a state of mind. Thanks for this lovely post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mary JoJune 17, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing - and hello to a fellow Charlestonian! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 17, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    so true girl so true
    I have friends who live in Charlestown.
    love the pic.
    Tee

    ReplyDelete
  5. LaneJune 17, 2011 at 10:47 AM

    Very well said! I was just having thoughts this week - ugh - our home is way too small for the five of us. I posted something similar about my home being too small and then I read this.

    ReplyDelete

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