Visiting Home

I graduated Adair County High School in Columbia, Kentucky in May and left for college three months later in Knoxville, Tennessee. I can still remember those visits back home in Kentucky when I’d take a friend or two. I would introduce them to some “Kentucky cooking” from my Mom. My friends would get to meet my Mom, Dad and the rest of my family. I can also remember vividly when I would leave to go back to college and my Mom would weep. It always made me feel bad for her and I hated leaving. I know that my parents were supportive of what I was doing. It was hard to separate because it’d be a few weeks before I’d come home again.

I believe Samuel had a similar issue with his parents. After he was dedicated as a young boy to serve the Lord at the temple, he grew in wisdom, stature and maturity while serving the high priest. When the high priest died, Samuel was informally still serving. The Lord had Samuel lined up to be leader for quite some time. I believe Samuel still loved to see his parents too. Check this out…

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the Lord. (1 Samuel 7:15-17 NIV)

There is an old cliché that says: “Home is where your heart is”. I do agree with that but it’s missing some pieces… My family fills my heart. I loved going home to Kentucky because my Mom and Dad were there. I also loved visiting with my grand parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My parents were the main reason I visited home. I think Samuel visited his home each year to see is dear mother and his dad.

Fast forward 30 years and my youngest brother and I started trying to figure out how to get our parents to move closer to us so that they would have our help in the sunset years of their lives. They’ve lived in Georgia nearly 10 years. I’ve had the opportunity to help many times. I’m so thankful that they live close by. Now if I could get all my kids and grand kids closer…

I believe that family can really help us stay grounded. Being close to my parents and my wife’s parents simple settles my heart on so many levels. I believe that God’s heart is for family. He felt it important enough that one of the 10 Commandments addressed it. Check this out…

‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV)

I’m so grateful for the heritage of faith that was passed on to me by my family. That family includes my extended family of grand parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to have my parents and my wife’s parents close by to stay connected, to serve and to love for the rest of their lives.

Pressing On!

Dwayne