home (noun)- the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household
The denotation of home is simple. Home is a permanent dwelling place, a place where families reside together. However, the connotation of home is where it can get tricky. To some, home is an apartment on the 34th floor. To others, it is a cabin in the woods or a house in the suburbs. But to me, home is my family. Home is my friends. Home is Arkansas. Home is the place where I do my homework, laugh until I cry, play with my dogs. It is my mom decorating the mantle of the fireplace, or my dad grilling in the backyard. It is my friends crashing through the backdoor and heading straight to the pantry. It is all my brothers and sisters sitting around the table playing card games.
Or at least that’s what I thought it was.
This summer, I lived in Swaziland, Africa for a month, where God spoke into my heart several much needed truths. One of those was about my home. I remember the exact moment vividly. My team of 14 sat down on the tile floor of our living room to pray and listen to God. The sun had already set, and we heeded intently to the sound of the rain falling that ended Swaziland’s drought. We praised God for the rain. We asked God what we needed to hear. and I heard.
“My home is where my God is.”
These words, so tenderly spoken into my heart by the Creator of the universe stirred in me a thought. Yes, my home is ultimately in heaven. But for the time being, my home is here. My home is where God leads me, where He intends for me to spend this short time I have been allotted.
In just 8 short months, my home is going to be somewhere new. My home will be a group of unfamiliar people whom I am ecstatic to meet. My home will be five different countries full of awaiting adventure, culture, and ministry. My home will be where my God grabs me by the hand, wipes away my fears and hesitations, and leads me to the place He designated for me from the very beginning. What a wonderful honor and privilege it is to be a part of that.
I am so grateful for this opportunity. I am so excited to see what it holds.
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