~Homesick
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~Homesick |
I
live 350 miles from my hometown
and visit my family several times a year. Once in a while, when circumstances
keep me from being able
to go home for several months, I begin to feel little pangs of homesickness.
I miss them.When I come into town
and knock on the apartment door, a little 87-year old lady opens the door,
smiles broadly and takes me in her arms. I am home.
She is my mother. I have not always been the best of daughters, but she
has always loved me and has been loyal to me through
it all.Even though I have a mother and a husband who love me greatly and unconditionally and their love brings me joy and great
comfort, it still does not fill that deep cavernous homesick kind of longing
that is in the spirit.
Most of us have a similar longing
inside... a deep yearning for something we cannot put into words. Without
knowing what it is, we find ourselves drawn into all
kinds of situations, whether it be a group of people, a relationship with
a person, or something else that allows us to feel
accepted and loved. These may not necessarily be bad, but if our love need
is great enough, it can override any wisdom or discernment
that we otherwise might exercise and we can end up in circumstances that
are not good for us. Sometimes we try
to fill that void with alcohol or drugs. Or it might be religion that is
not based on the Word of God. If these things bring any
relief, it is temporary. When the newness has gone, we are longing, yearning,
and hurting to an even greater degree.
Eventually,
we come to the place where we are so filled up with pain that we must have
relief. Then, we begin to search in earnest for that
place of inner peace.The One who created you is just waiting for you to come home to Him. His love for us is so great that
"God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) When by faith we
believe that He paid in full our sin debt, we can come via the cross of
Jesus Christ, across the only bridge to a Holy God and finally
find that great void filled with God's peace.
As expressed in an old hymn by Will L. Thompson, "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling... ye who are weary, come home."
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