There are a few different types of “home”, I’ve decided.
There is, of course, the home where you live most all of your days. The place where life happens, from the mundane to the marvelous, with the people you love most in the world. Then, there is the home of your youth, where your parents reside and where you were molded and shaped (in my case, with a lot of love) into the person you’ve become. There is the home of your spouse’s parents; the place where you visit and discover, little by little, the threads that make up the tapestry of their lives. It is also here that, if you are among the extremely blessed (as am I), you become one of those threads and are embraced for the color you add. Finally, there is your spiritual home, your church, where you connect with a body of believers with whom you walk out your faith.
After my own Christmas pilgrimage to Texas, I’ve been mulling over the concept of “home” and what makes it so important. What makes each place “home”? All at once, in a plane hovering above the earth at 30,000 feet, it hit me. The common denominator is the fact that in each place, Jesus is there.
He was there in the beautiful decor and the majestic Christmas trees (TREES!). He was there in the food prepared with care and love, the packages chosen and wrapped with the recipient in mind, the warm cider…the warm hugs. He was there when my parents read the Christmas Story to my wide-eyed nephews, as the rest of us drank it in. He was there when my girls set aside life-long competition and petty arguments, in favor of treating each other like sisters and, best of all, finding they enjoyed it.
He was there when we all sniffled our way through a heartwarming movie. He was there when my husband and I opened our gifts to each other and realized that, not only had we wrapped them the same, but they WERE the same! He was there when both girls, now grown, curled up with me on the sofa like when they were small. He was there when all of our parents teared up when we said goodbye.
I’ve been praying that God would show me something during this Christmas that would cause me to remember it for years to come. As always, He was faithful. He opened my eyes to the Gift that makes home, “home”. It’s a picture of what’s to come as I travel this road toward a certain mansion in the sky. After all, it’s not just a house, it’s a home.
Jesus is there.
John 14:2-3 KJV
Melinda,
This is the scripture that the Holy Spirit spoke into our hearts as my Mom laid in a hospital bed receiving Christ into her heart, just she and I. She said to me, now, I’ll have my own room, won’t I? I knew then that God had gone before us….preparing. Beautiful as less than 2 weeks later, He came for her.
Love to you and sure is great to have you back!
Yolanda
Thank you for this insight. He is what makes us feel at home. Even amidst swirling snow or lingering in the darkness of a power outage, He is there. And we are home.
Blessings!
How right you are, Melinda. HE is our home — and I can’t even begin to comprehend what it will be like to be at home with Him in heaven one day!
So glad you had so many
wonderful, “homey” moments during the holidays!
Simply Beautiful. He is our home. After my day today I am realizing just how many people don’t know of him and don’t realize how much he loves each and everyone of us. My prayers is that the women I am working with will come to know Him as their home. And what a comfy HE is!
So glad you are back.
Love, Jen
Jesus is there…and He is here. Home is where your heart is, and my heart belongs to Jesus. Jesus is my home.
Happy New Year,
Joy
Home with Jesus. Home to Jesus. So thankful for the thread that connects my home to yours and to his. We are a kingdom people whose bloodlines run deep.
Loved hearing about your Texas Christmas. Now I’m curious. What did you and your husband get one another?
peace~elaine
Home and Jesus. Beautiful. I can’t wait to read what God reveals to you in the New Year!
OH MY WORD did I just cry or what?
I love ya Melinda and I’m so glad that your Christmas was extra beautiful!!!!!
Happy New Year!
Hugs,
Fran
Hi Melinda,
I’m visiting your blog from “Speaking Thru Me”. Your words brought me to tears. Thank you for bringing light to the true meaning of home!
Blessings for a Happy New Year!
Ginger 🙂
Hi there,
Thanks for stopping by! Amen to letting Christ carry us. There are days when I have to remind myself that I don’t have to take that “death crawl” all alone..He’s there to carry me.
Ginger 🙂
melinda – what a beautiful post. Home — somedays it feels so close and others it feels so far. It sounds like the Lord blessed you with a wonderful Christmas holiday.
Such a lovely post!