Friday, August 30, 2013

A Surprise Birthday Gift, Gallbladder Surgery and the Will of God and What They All Have in Common



A very good friend moved out to North Carolina a few years ago and was none too happy – she knew no one, but of course, her husband and children. Sadly, she hadn’t connected with anyone in the short time that she lived there, so she was lonely for friendship.
(Aside) A wise pastor told me, not to expect my husband to be my all and all. A spouse, no matter how wonderful can’t be everything that the other has need of – that would be exhausting – not to mention impossible.
So what did this husband do when he saw the downcast state of his beloved? He assessed the situation and determined to surprise his wife with a little bit of friendship for her birthday. He brought me a round trip plane ticket so that I might come out for a visit. No, he didn’t buy his wife a ticket, she would have come up with 100 and 1 reasons why she couldn’t leave home for something as frivolous as a trip to someplace familiar... So SURPRISE!
Out of the car in NC
I went... but I don't travel, at least, I don't like to travel. I don't like staying away from my home, a.k.a. my own bed. I am not a fan of flying, (I'm over fifty and I've flown only five times)... But I went... My friend and I had a great time, just hanging out... 
 

 I got back HOME...sweet home - be it ever so humble... just in time for surgery the next day... But doctor that's not how the doctor on the Youtube video did the surgery...
I just want to go home... It's so allusive...
I was so groggy after the surgery. I was not in my right mind, but I knew I was HOME. There was my pillow... where I could lay me down to rest...
Less than a week God spoke to another friend. Get thee to Toronto. Take Nina!
The Castle Loma
But Lord, I don't travel! You know that!... 
Not my will, but Thine. What am I supposed to see... How far away home is... To make my heart yearn for that which I took for granted... 
This time six days nearly 600 pictures...
Back at work... The new guy ask, "So what was your favorite trip?"
I thought for a few seconds...
'My trip home!'
It always felt so good to come back home. And now with a week of
Sky - foretaste
teaching completed; every night feels simply wonderful... To come home, (even with grading or presentations to get together). Admittedly so; home sometimes is mod podge of eclectic collected stuff, (actually a lot less - hubby got a dumpster while I was NC), but still that which is familiar. The drive home often doesn't seem as stress-filled as the drive to school because I'm going home!
It's not that home is so big, or fancy/special - it's what it represents to me - a place where I am loved, safe, forgiven, valued. My heart truly yearns for my "real" Home... Home with my Heavenly Father/God...
I've enjoyed visiting and going to all the  new place. I have over 600 pictures to share, but HOME is indeed the best.
Does your heart yearn for HOME? I hope it does - there's no place like it..