Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home hangs above my bed as a representation of my family; my husband, myself and our three sons.  It's idyllic portrait to be sure; loving, sweet and peace-filled, representing my dreams to be a wonderful wife and mother bird.  But real life is quite a bit more messy.  Real life is woven with ups, downs, joys, conflicts, sweet memories and imperfections.

In real life, there comes a time when the birdies leave the nest, when all that's left inside are memories and empty rooms.....an empty nest.  We're not in that stage yet, but we're getting a taste of it.  It's a good thing, to be sure, for birdies to grow, and try their wings, and fly, but it's a hard thing too.

For the ones leaving home and the ones being left, saying "good-bye" is painful.  We realize that the time we had together was short - it just flew by.  We may experience regret for what we did or didn't do.  Reality strikes, and we realize it wasn't meant to be that we all stay nestled together forever.  Our babies were made to be able to fly.....away.

Home Sweet Home also represents something much deeper, something much more profound, something akin to a parable.  Home Sweet Home is not just limited to a  place.  It's not just a family unit.  It's not just a short little span of time that we have together.

Home Sweet Home is a state of being.....loved.  It's knowing that no matter where we go, who we're with, no matter what we do or don't do, we will never find ourselves forgotten, abandoned or alone.....because we have a Home with our Father who is always with us.  He is our Sweet Home.

Long ago, the LORD gave His people a golden symbol of His holy presence.  He wanted His beloved ones to know that they would always be with Him;  protected, loved and.....at Home.....if they remained under His wings.  The Ark of the Covenant testified .....The LORD was their Sweet Home.

Beneath the slogan and painting above my bed, the Golden Rectangle Quilt covers me with silent reminders of  God's covenant promises.   These visuals remind me that God's presence is always near no matter where we go, because He has made His Home in the hearts of those who love and trust Him.  Our hearts are His home.

When my birdies venture off and leave the nest, I have the assurance that wherever they fly, Abba Father is always near, and under His wings they will find......Home Sweet Home!  In this promise, I will rest. 

   He will cover you with His feathers, 

and under his wings you will find refuge.

Psalm 91:4