There is no place like home                                        Home Page                        

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Dorothy clicked the heels of her ruby slippers and repeated, “There is no  

place like home.” No wonder “The Wizard of Oz” became a television holiday 

tradition. 

Holidays make us long for home. Fragrances. Home cooking. Hugs. 

Reunions. Relaxing husbands. Frantic wives. There is no place like home or the 

comfort of familiar surroundings. 

Our home is no different. We try to create traditions. A feast at 

Thanksgiving, hugs from visiting family members, some time to sleep late and 

the comfort of family and friends. 

But I have a concern privately shared with my friends. I hope I am not 

rearing spoiled brats! That concern is magnified at this time of year. Do we truly 

teach what Jesus taught as we strive to create Christian homes? American 

parents face a huge dilemma. In doing so much to raise happy healthy children, 

are we doing enough of the right things? 

Hurricane Ivan caused many local rivers and creeks to flood. Our home 

fronts a small neighborhood lake that rose several feet into our yard. We tied our 

deck and gazebo to nearby trees in an effort to keep them close should they drift 

away in the rising water. 

A tree fell, forming a bridge from our yard to the peak of a gazebo, 

making a perfect temptation for my children who love to climb. Being a mean 

mom, I made my seven-year old son, Rhett, stop just beyond the halfway point. 

Needless to say, he wanted desperately to go to the top. 

Later that night, Rhett was upset with me. “Why do I always have to be 

so safe?” He cried alligator tears, and while I tried to console him, he responded. 

“I’ve just had a bad day.” 

There I was, face-to-face with my fear about rearing spoiled children. I 

wondered silently. “Is this really about climbing some tree?” 

“Son, let me ask you a question. Are you hungry?” 

“No,” he said. 

“Are you cold?” 

“No.” 

“Are you wet from all the rain today?” 

“No.” 

“Then Son, you have not had a bad day.” I turned and left his room 

realizing he had no idea what I had just tried to explain to him. 

As parents there are just some things that we can’t tell our children and 

expect them to truly comprehend the meaning. We must show them what we 

mean. One such thing is about hungry children in a different part of town or in a 

distant country. Kids respond better to tangibles. Show them children with ribs 

protruding and they will share their food. 

As a Christian mom, I want to teach others about Jesus by my actions, not 

just my words. We talk about people in need, but this year it’s time to quit 

talking and time to start doing. 

In a conversation with my friend Cathy who works for Open Door 

Adoption Agency, we discussed a common desire to teach our children to share 

what they have with others. Now that my children are 7 and 9, this is the 

perfect age to begin to show them about the needs of others. 

There is no place like home, unless you don’t have one. Cathy told me of 

a program that needs host families for orphans from Russia. Frontiers For 

Children brings children over two times a year seeking host homes and adoptive 

families. Host families teach the children about Jesus while sharing their home 

and family. The goal is that they will someday be permanently adopted. 

Searching the website, I scrolled through pictures of happy children and 

read their stories. Some had never known a home or a family. 

When my children looked at the pictures and we read about their lives, 

each was eager to help and became excited about the opportunity. Maybe four 

weeks of sharing their lives with disadvantaged children might be what the 

doctor ordered to teach my kids what a bad day really is! Not to mention the 

opportunity to share Christ with others, and offer our home to someone in need. 

Jesus said He would not leave us as orphans. (John 14:18) As Christians, 

this is simply one opportunity to share Christ with others. God blessed America 

with an abundance of everything. “From everyone who has been given much, 

much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, 

much more will be asked”. (Luke 12:48). We are the hands of Christ, and the 

holiday season is a great time to reach out to others. 

Am I suggesting that you adopt a child for four weeks or even a lifetime? 

Not necessarily. The greatest gift you can give your family this holiday season is 

to become aware of those in need and to do something to help. You may not 

want to adopt a Russian child, but feed someone who is hungry. You may not 

want to become a host home, but visit a nursing home and spend time with a 

lonely senior. 

This holiday season, let’s do more than talk about the gift of Jesus, lets 

live it. The greatest gift any of us has ever received is the gift of eternal life in 

Christ and forgiveness of every sin in our past and future. We can share that gift 

openly this season by reaching outside our comfort zone. 

As we enjoy our homes and feasts this season, enjoy and be grateful! 

There truly is no place like home. 

(Frontiers for Children can be located on the web at 

frontiersforchildren.org or by calling calling Le Ann Dakake at 678-313-8321. Of 

the past children in the hosting program, 85% have been adopted into 

permanent families. You can become involved in one of three ways- funding, 

hosting, (Dec. 13-Jan. 10), or permanent adoption. Please contact them for more 

information.)