Home

Hello Everyone!

  Here is just something I wrote when I started missing home in Ethiopia. Sometimes it takes a bit of distance to obtain some clarity. You don't always realize how important some things and people are to you until you can't see or talk with them everyday. I was thankful to find this as a bit of a reminder right before Christmas what this season should be about! I hope you all took time to appreciate your home and your family this holiday season! I hope you enjoy!

Home

[09.03.15]

  "Home. Home sweet home. Home is where the heart is. I have heard these quotes my entire life. I have seen them in and on placks hanging in a myriad of houses. Though they may be considered cheesy or cliché, I have found them to be very true!

  While I have enjoyed my time in Ethiopia, there is something extremely sweet about the name Carthage Tennessee. To me, though I may get a bit stir crazy at times, that is home to me. That is where I grew up. That is where my greatest memories were made. That is where my family is. The greatest treasure I can ever hope to have in this world!

  Within the small town of Carthage Tennessee, is a little house, that holds the most important people to me in the whole world. It holds some of the best and worst memories. But through each of these times the people there have grown closer than before. None of us are perfect, but that's a big part of what makes that place home. We have rejoiced together at each success, we have sorrowed together at each loss, we have laughed together, and at each other. So many emotions and memories within those walls! So to me home is not some magical place where everything is perfect and peaceful. Home is where people can be people . Home is a place where you can be yourself. Home is where everyone knows how weird you are, tells you how weird you are, but loves you despite all of your flaws! Through your faults and failures home is a safe haven. Home is not perfect, but perfection isn't what we should strive for, because we will never reach it on our own. Strive to have a relationship with Christ and the closest thing to perfection we can have on this earth will be possible! 

  There is a hope and a joy that comes from being home. It's a good place to recharge. Though I would have loved growing up on the countryside, I would not have changed the home I grew up in for anything! Those creaky floors, those brick walls, those slanted floors, that caramel can imprint on the kitchen ceiling, those rusty old iron rails on the front porch... I could go on and on about the imperfections of the place, but we made memories running and sliding on those slanted floors, running around and climbing those brick walls, sliding down the old stairs on mattresses, laughing as we cleaned up the caramel all over the kitchen, hanging garlands and sitting on the front porch eating lunch on a nice summer's day. I love thinking back to all of the memories I have made in that little humble house! But to be honest the house is just a house. That place would not be worth a dime to me without my family. That is home. Where my family is. Where we can laugh, joke, and poke fun at each other. Where we can be ourselves and know that no matter what we will always be there for one another. That is what home is to me. Home is family. My Family."


    
    I thought it was neat that I already had this written and ready to go and my pastor spoke about the home on Sunday! "Home is a difficult word to define", He stated. Maybe I touched to definition of the word! "Home is not in a place, but in a Person." He said. Oh to be in our eternal home with Christ our Savior! I hope you all have that hope! I'm not sure when that day will be, but can you imagine the glory of that day? Though I long for that home, I am thankful for my temporary home as well! The Lord has been so good to me and I cannot tell you why, except to say what He reminds me of daily! He loves me. He loves me! How could He ever love me? A sinner saved by grace, redundantly returning to that sin He continues to bring me out of! How great Thou art my gracious Father! How can I give Him anything but love? I want to appreciate my Home more. Not only this season, but for the rest of my days!
Another angle we could look at is this: "Home is where the heart is" Yes, I know, it's a bit of a cliché quote, but ask yourself, "Where is my heart?" Your heart can be anywhere or in anything. The heart is a flexible thing in where it can fit into any place you decide to put it. So where is it? It will be revealed in the way you live. Your habits and your conversation will give you away. Is it your job? Your possessions? Your family? Your pets? Or maybe it's something that shouldn't be in your life at all? Maybe it is a habit that is tearing your family apart or numbing you spiritually. Whatever it is, that is personal, but the Lord gave His life so that you might give Him yours! Give him your heart! Saved or lost! If you are lost, I ardently hope you give your heart over to the Lord! If you are saved, well you already have haven't you? But you continually take it back for yourself. I know I am guilty of this from time to time! It is easy to forget to whom you belong when you have a free will, but without free will our relationship with Christ would be mechanical and nothing special. Can you choose Him again? Choose Him daily! If "Home is where the heart is", where is your Home? Is it in Christ? 


I hope you all had a very merry Christmas, and I wish you all a happy new year!    

  Simply,

      Sarah

P.S. Hey guys and gals! I truly appreciate hearing from you guys! Give me some ideas on what to rant about next or even some tips on how I can my blog more enjoyable for you! Thank you for reading!