What Home Means to Me

They say home is where the heart is, but to me, home is where my mother is.

When I was younger, I was separated from my mother for two years. It was very difficult to adjust, especially since I had never been away from her for more than a few days. My new temporary home lacked nothing materially. I had everything a child could ask for. However, I was not happy because my mother was not there. During the day, school and time spent with friends kept my mind occupied. But at night, I often shed tears because I could no longer hear my mother’s voice saying, “Goodnight. I love you.” Whenever that happened, I would find myself gazing at the stars in the night sky. As I looked at their beauty, I thought to myself, “I don't belong here. I would rather be up there.”

My family was not well off, nor did we live in a good neighborhood, yet I missed that place terribly. What made me miss it so much? It was not the house itself, the familiar surroundings, or even the memories. It was because one person was there—my mother.

The day I was finally able to return home remains deeply engraved in my memory as a truly beautiful moment. I will never forget my mother's smile and tear-filled eyes as she embraced me when I walked through the front door.

Now I am older and have started my own family, so I no longer live in the same city as my mother. My mother has also moved to different home in the suburbs, so the house where I grew up is no longer our home.

As a child, I became homesick whenever I was away from my mother. Now, however, I can adapt easily and live comfortably wherever I go. It is not simply because I have become an adult. In 2015, I met someone who changed my life and made me who I am today. That someone, who is with me wherever I go, is New Jerusalem, Heavenly Mother. Ever since I came to know Heavenly Mother, who created me and gave life to my soul, I have felt peace, security, and a sense of home wherever I am. Because Heavenly Mother is with me, I no longer worry. I am truly happy and thankful to have Heavenly Mother, who always guides and protects me. I will strive to be a devoted daughter to both my physical and my spiritual Mother, who have raised me with boundless love and sacrifice.