Returning home

There is just  something about this time of year that makes home extra-special. The time change has many of us returning home from our work day in darkness, but if you're lucky enough to have someone waiting for you, the lights may be shining in the darkness, welcoming you back from a long, hard day.

I can remember walking up the street toward my home when I was a kid and to see the kitchen light shining in the darkness was always so comforting. I knew that my mom would be in the kitchen cooking up dinner and the house would be filled with the smells of something tasty. The house would also be warm and toasty, a nice change from the chilly autumn air. My family was there, the people who loved me the most and soon we would all be crowded around the kitchen table sharing the events of our day with one another.

As I drove up our driveway the other evening, the memories of my childhood popped into my mind and created a warm, cozy feeling. The lights were welcoming me home and although my mom wasn't in the kitchen cooking, my husband was busy preparing dinner and it smelled wonderful when I walked through the door. We spent the evening sharing the highlights and low points of our day. The feeling of being loved and cared for was the same as that of my childhood.

As a Christian, I've often imagined what it will be like when I leave this old world behind and enter the gates of Heaven. I expect it to be a homecoming of "epic proportions." The warm, cozy feelings I've had on this earth are just a preview of what awaits me there.

Jesus said that he was going to prepare a place for His disciples and that we would one day spend eternity with Him. 

I'm not sure what my heavenly dwelling will look like, but I know that when I arrive there, I'll just know that I've arrived home. I don't think we'll need lights to illuminate the darkness, the Bible says that we won't even need the sun because God himself will illuminate the Holy City. There will be plenty of loving people waiting to greet me and I'll be enveloped in a loving environment.

Thanksgiving was observed in homes across our nation in November. I'm sure that many of the gatherings were filled with happy reunions and loving conversation, but there were also many stress-filled family gatherings. Many folks who had no family to celebrate the day with or those who were estranged from their families. 

Not everyone has memories of homes filled with love and acceptance. There are many folks who have missed out on a welcome hug as they return home. If you know someone like that, include them in your own celebrations. If they turn down the invitation, fix them a plate and deliver it to them. Find a way to create a beautiful memory for them. Sometimes memories are all we need to make it through the day.