You who know me know that I’m a bit of a word nerd. As I reflected on what exactly I mean by “home,” I confess that I turned to the dictionary. The definition that struck me the most was the use of “home” as a verb: “(of an animal) to return by instinct to its territory after leaving it.” I started to envision myself as a homing pigeon preparing for its return flight with a message tied to its leg! That makes me laugh! But, my serious side can’t help but wonder, what does that message tied to my leg say? Surprisingly, no words come to mind, and I realize that the message I’ll be bringing won’t be spoken with words. Like a butterfly’s wings, it will slowly unfold and brush gently against your cheek as a breeze, discernible only if you seek it out.
This isn’t to say that I won’t be coming home with lots of stories to tell; I assure you, I have MANY! But, the message isn’t really in the stories; it’s hidden in my heart and whispers of how God has shaped me throughout this year by stretching me, growing me, and teaching me oh so many things! Even I have so much more to discover about what my message is, and I know that it will be revealed to me as I settle back into life at home.
But, still, what does home mean? In my life I’ve learned that one part of making a place feel like home is having my stuff there! It’s also the place where I lay down my head at night. Above all else however, it’s the place where I am surrounded by friends and family—even when they’re not my biological family. It’s the place where I am loved, accepted, and included in all of the inside jokes! Praise God, I have encountered all of these aspects of home here in Honduras. I have a community, I have friends, I have a family—I have a home here. Never has this been more evident to me than at this time of saying goodbyes.
In one of my first blog posts, I wrote, “I am so thankful for painful goodbyes because they signify my ability to love others deeply and to be loved in return. What greater blessing exists?” The events of this past year have come full circle. As I count down my last days in Honduras, I find myself in the same situation of having to say painful goodbyes, and they remind me of how I have grown to love so many precious people here. And, of how I have been loved in return. Thank you, Jesus!
God has been faithful with the promise he spoke to me before I left Michigan to come here: “The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:3, 5-6). I am absolutely so excited to be coming home with shouts of joy! I will be carrying my sheaves with me in my heart as precious treasures waiting to be carefully unwrapped and discovered. Thank you God for blessing me so richly this year!
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