Comin’ Home…

Mom… she always said ‘Come home anytime’. When I would get a date on the calendar I always called and said ‘I’m comin’ home’.

Home was not the house I grew up in, as we moved many times during my childhood. And home wasn’t a place where she settled after I moved out – she continued to change addresses until her last ten years. Home was wherever mom was. It smelled a certain way, tension left my neck when I walked through the door, and sleep was deep at night.

You and I, we have an eternal home – and I bet it smells familiar, I know there is no tension, and for sure rest is sweet. We’ve been there, I think, because the Father knew us before we were born. We haven’t been there in bodily form but our spirit has dwelt with His as He knit us together in our mother’s womb.

“Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.” (Ephesians 1:4 NLT)

Not everyone remembers home fondly. It is a sad reality – some want to be as far away as possible. This too is part of the foreign-ness of here: knowing home should be that safe place, yet fear or coldness is a better description. If this is your reality, just wait. The security and love in your forever home is coming  – and He is using the ashes of the past to mend your soul in readiness for it.

“Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:3-4 NLT)

The Father has written a whole book telling us to come home anytime. Now, on this earth, that home is dwelling in His word, sitting with Him in prayer, resting in Him in sleep. Someday that home will be forever, in His presence, with wonders new, unending.

I bet my mom loves everything about her new home. She was one of the ones who, here on earth, never had the love of a good home. She just provided one for her daughter. Now her reward is great and anticipation of forever brings joy anew with each breath.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom – and to all who have been so blessed to be called Mother, this is for you: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” (Proverbs 31:29 NIV)