Thoughts on Home

The story is told of a Dutch soldier who was captured and made prisoner of war. He was far from his homeland and completely isolated from family and friends. He did not hear a word from home and felt very lonely and afraid. He didn't know if anyone at home was still alive or how his country was doing. He had a thousand questions and not a single answer. He soon felt that he had nothing left to live for and quickly fell into despair.

One day, he received an unexpected letter, crumpled and dirty because it had traveled so far and long to reach him. He opened up and read these words: " We are all waiting for you at home. Everything is fine. Don't worry. We will see you back at home and we all desire to see you."

This simple letter changed his life. The external circumstances of his life - his imprisonment and isolation - did not change. He continued his labour, endured the same difficult things, but he felt completely different on the inside. Someone was waiting for him. He still had a home.

At first, when I read this story, it made me think of friends and family back in California that I have left behind. Then I thought of those I loved who have died, and finally, I thought of Jesus Himself speaking these words to me - "We are all waiting for you at Home. Everything is fine. Don't worry."

There's something powerful about home. Even if you didn't come from a good home, just to know that there's someplace where you belong, where someone is waiting for you, where you are accepted and loved, makes all the difference in the world.

I pray that all of you have such a place, whether it's a literal home, an adopted home, or a figurative home. May you know how much you are loved by God and belong to Him. It might not change your circumstances, but it will change everything on the inside.