Homesick

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;  yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.”  Philippians 1:21-24

Living one place, yet yearning to be somewhere else is difficult.  I’m witnessing this with my 2 granddaughters, Sarah (8) and Summer (6).   They’ve spent the past 4 years living in the bush of Kenya with their career missionary parents.   Kenya is home to them, so this one year furlough is proving difficult.   Of course they love being with all their extended family, but their thoughts  are elsewhere.  (The girls pictured above with their Uncle Adam and 2 year old sister, Savannah.)

Life is different here.  Even though we have all the luxuries of the free world,  it just doesn’t seem important to them.  They don’t understand the American culture, our way of life, the wealth and waste.  They don’t understand the luxuries and struggle with reconciling having access to them while the people they love back home do not.

Every day is filled with talk of their beloved home and desire to be there.  It’s the first conversation of the day and the last each night.  Even though they love us, they’re homesick and want to go home.  Home to their permanent home, to their friends, to what and where God has called them.

At first my selfish response was, “Oh but girls, I miss you so when you’re gone!  Please stay with us awhile longer.  You’ll learn to enjoy it here to and it will be like home, too.”  My blunt little 6 year granddaughter said, “No it won’t.  Nothing can be like home.”

This made me stop and evaluate my life.  What do I yearn for?  Where am I most at home?  Who/what are my thoughts directed towards first thing in the morning and last thing at night?  Who do I desire the most?

What was confirmed in my heart was I yearn for holiness, peace,  joy, love  and the intimacy I have when I am with the Lord.  In this world full of trappings and distractions, I find it difficult to experience this type of relationship on a continual basis.  I ache to be with my Lord and Savior.

I recently read a quote by C.S. Lewis: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

I’m homesick.    I wanna go home, home where I belong.

(Please check out the video at the link above.)

Enjoyed the Post? Share...

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Linkedin

email

Digg

Reddit

• ← But My Sin Is To Great
• Lesson from a Tomato Plant →