What makes a house a home?

What's in a home? what makes you feel welcomed and loved, care for and invited in?

That's been the theme of the week in so many ways!

It has come through...
Welcoming new people here, and helping them to settle in
Conversations with hosts and guests entirely separately, yet all in one day!
Seeing different people's homes, and the reactions of people to different places, some that make sense and some that don't (the places, not the people reactions!)

It has struck home yet again, how very important it is to welcome people in, to be hospitable, to encourage, no matter who, what or when, and is something that I would love to do more of!

And yet, coming back the original question.... what makes a house a home?? What, in the physical environment makes one feel welcomed and invited in, as a visitor for a meal, or to make someone else's home, your home for a time. What are we called to do? What are we called to do as Christians, and is there a line that says, that's it, enough, I can stop now?? Sometimes I think we wished there was a line like that, but I don't think there is one.... and therein lies the challenge for us all....

much to ponder!