Homesickness

Say the word "homesick" and I immediately get:

• A lump in my throat
• A pain in my chest
• A heavy stomach

As a child, I battled homesickness big time. It ruined many a sleepover or pajama party, two common activities of childhood entertainment.

I loved sleepovers--at first. I looked forward to them and would give myself a pep talk, saying, "I can do this! It will be fun." Then, around midnight or so, the tears would come, along with the lump in my throat, pain in my chest, and upset stomach.

My patient parents. Many a night they drove across town to pick up a crying Susie who, once again, could not stay through the night. And, I would wave goodbye to a tearful girlfriend whose sleepover was ruined.

Homesickness is a feeling you don't easily forget. I dealt with it as a child, then as a student going away to college (really rough), and as a new bride living in another state. I still remember pulling out of my parents' driveway for the last time after our wedding.

It's amazing that eventually I re-located 2000 miles from my home in Ohio to distant Arizona. I've come a long way with this homesickness struggle, but whenever anyone mentions the feeling, I immediately empathize.

I read something the other day that put a positive spin on this term. It came from that fantastic devotional writer Sarah Young in her book Jesus Calling (2004):

[Jesus speaking] "I made you in My image, and I hid heaven in your heart. Your yearning for Me is a form of homesickness: longing for your true home in heaven."

Homesickness is a longing that can be quelled only by being home, with those you love. When I equate the angst of my childhood homesickness with a longing for Heaven, to be in the presence of God, I smile. It puts a whole new light on it.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is a terrible thing.

The tragedies of this past week show the extent of our country's illness. Those tragedies anger all of us, as they should. The killing of two black men in Louisiana and Minnesota, and the killing of five police officers and wounding of seven in Dallas, are inexcusable.

It's a disease of the heart.

The antidote? We must:

• Value ALL human life
• Accept differences
• Teach children to love and honor people
• Dialog with others, regardless of mindset, color, gender, nationality, religion, or political persuasion

 

We don't have to agree, but we must interact peacefully and respectfully.

Heart disease is a terrible thing. 

 * * * * * * * * * * *

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." (Hebrews 10:24)

"...clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3:12-14)

"Love is patient, love is kind....Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:4 & 8)

Create Memories

Much of what we do as parents falls under the category "making memories." Moms and dads go to a lot of effort to provide activities and traditions, both large and small, that anchor their children--memories for them to carry throughout their lifetime.

Hopefully, most of these events are positive. We often can't help it when negative things happen in our children's lives, so we do our best to mitigate the effects. Wow, I'm getting deep.

What started all this introspection?

Recently, our scattered family gathered at a favorite vacation spot, beautiful San Diego, California. We vacationed there as a family for over 40 years.

My husband and I are in the phase of our lives where we don't have to enter the icy, seaweed-infested waters of the Pacific Ocean. Our time for boogie-boarding is history. We don't have to impress the grandchildren with our frisbee, football, paddleball, or volleyball skills--the ever-present beach activities.

We get to just sit in our lawn chairs under an umbrella. We get to watch our children interact with their children on the beach and in the water. We get to watch the ten grandchildren play in the sand and water--just like their parents did many years ago. We love it.


It occurred to me, beach play never changes. For eons, kids have been building sand castles, digging holes for the tide to fill up, burying siblings up to their heads, and "selling" pretend sand cakes to the old adults sitting in lawn chairs. It must be in their DNA because all children do the same.

Everyone was having fun, whatever activity or non-activity they were engaged in. Then it hit me how important it was that we created positive memories all those years ago. It really did have an impact on them. I remember thinking, I wonder if this is worth all the effort. Will they even remember what we're doing?

Good news is, yes, they will remember. Perhaps not all the tiny details we work so hard to orchestrate, but memories that will impact them with a sense of fun, love, belonging, and tradition. All good things.

The message is:

Parents, take heart. You're busy, tired, stressed, and over-scheduled. Some days, making memories is probably not high on your agenda. Keep at it because they will remember, and they will add it to the list of memories they create for their children. It's worth your effort.

Summertime is time for family memories.....enjoy!

 

 COMING SOON

Live Your Highlights 

60 Days of Encouragement for Christian Living!

 Read 1 chapter a day, & in 2 months you will develop the habit of meeting w/ God regularly