Photo was taken in Col√°iste Choilm, Ballincollig, just before the holidays began!

Part of what makes Christmas special is what happens at home. The smells of baking and cooking in the kitchen at Christmas have a uniqueness of their own, that cannot be matched at any other time of the year.

Thought on Monday – December – 23/12/2013

‘Home is the nicest word there is.’ ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

During the past few days we have all seen in the news and in the papers photos and clips of Christmas homecomings. Families wait at the airport arrivals hall waiting for their loved one to walk through the arrival door. Then there are emotional scenes, lots of hugs and kisses and just sheer delight to be home. There is no place like home at any time of the year and at Christmas home is the place we want to be. For many people home is good and its a place to relax and unwind. But for some families home can also be a sad, stressful and difficult place for lots of different reasons. For some who are homeless there is the ultimate loss of connection and belonging.

Jesus was born in a stable and as his first home it was far from perfect and ideal. But within that stable home he experienced much love from his parents, shepherds and others who may have visited. This Christmas we pray that our home will be a place of welcome, of rest, of peace and a place where we can just be. So often we fall well short. But like so many other homes no one gets it just right. But we certainly do our best to make it happen.