A Home Away From Home

A Home Away from Home

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

1 Peter 4:9

My parents moved away from Litchfield, my hometown, in the fall of my freshman year of college. Although I saw them often at the town house they bought as part of their downsizing, I missed my childhood home, especially since I still made frequent trips to Litchfield.

At the time, I was dating someone who lived there, and I visited him just about every weekend. Knowing that I didn’t have anywhere to stay overnight, a dear friend from high school offered to let me stay at her parents’ home, even on the weekends when she was away at college.

That’s how I found myself, time and again, surreptitiously opening the back door to let myself in to her big, quiet house. Their family had a gorgeous historic home that reminded me of my own childhood home with its big staircases and wooden floors that I would tiptoe across in the dark. More often than not, when I arrived, her parents would already be in bed or at least out of sight, but there were always towels laid out in “my” bedroom whenever they knew I was coming.

Though I appreciated their kindness at the time, I marvel at it even more now. I needed a place to stay, and they invited me in, no strings attached. Although I always tried to chat with them in the morning before I left, sometimes I wouldn’t see them at all. They certainly didn’t have to let the teenage friend of their daughter stay at their house. Living on a busy street, they could have been worried about making sure their doors were locked tightly against possible intruders, but instead they left them open and left the light on for me.

It’s been many years since I made these trips into their house in the dark of night. But now, with teenagers of my own who steal into the house late at night, when I hear the door creaking and footsteps falling softly on the hardwood floors, I’m reminded of my friend’s sweet parents and find that I don’t mind at all.

—Kristin

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Invite someone to use your home, no strings attached. You could invite your children’s friends over or allow a friend to stay while you’re out of town.