Yes, homesick.
Homesick for my old home – my old town, my old friends, my old church.
Homesick for my family.
It's been a rough couple of months. Especially at the holidays. Yes, I spent time with family and friends – but the time together made me even more acutely aware of the fact that I live away from them now.
There are activities that I know I would get to be part of if I was "still in town" – dinners, get-togethers, football games…
It's made me feel lonely and isolated – it's made me feel sad.
But it has also made me realize one very deep Truth…
I'm a foreigner.
You are too.
I suppose all of us in this country, unless we're Native Americans, are really just *imports*. Our ancestors came from another country. I'm one generation removed from my Scottish roots – (Aye, I'm just a wee lassie…call me McSharon). But, this isn't quite what I have in mind.
I'm talking about being foreigners on earth.
Because, you see, as believers we don't quite belong here.
Our home is somewhere else.
The Bible tells us that God has planted eternity in the human heart – and don't we just sense the truth of that? Doesn't your heart have a longing that you can't quite describe – and you can't quite fulfill – with anything or anyone or anywhere on this humble planet?
Don't you yearn for Heaven?
The blessed assurance is that we hope for a future that is promised – it's just waiting for us. Jesus told us that He went to prepare a place for us – and I believe it's the Truth!
And until that day, there will always be a part of us that doesn't belong here. There will always be a part of us that feels out-of-place. There will always be a part of us that lives like a sojourner in a foreign land…
But…(the glorious BUT!)…we have a future and a hope. We have a home just waiting for our return.
Listen to these wonderful words:
"'I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will resettle them…until there is no more room for them all. They will pass safely through the sea of distress, for the waves of the sea will be held back, and the waters of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be crushed, and the rule of Egypt will end. By my power I will make my people strong, and by my authority they will go wherever they wish. I, the LORD, have spoken!'" (Zechariah 10:10-12)
Though these verses originally spoke to another audience, I believe that we can apply them to our current situation. This pictured return from Egypt and Assyria can be a symbolic way of expressing the hope of our future return to our heavenly homeland, and to our eternity living in the presence of God.
We believers will be gathered and returned from many countries around the world. We will be emancipated from slavery to sin, freed from captivity – we will return to Heaven triumphant!
Here's what I think God is saying to us:
"I will bring you back from Earth and gather you from all the countries of the world. I will resettle you in heavenly mansions…until there is no more room for you all! You will pass safely through the sea of death, for the wages of sin will be held back, and the power of the enemy will dry up. The pride of Satan will be crushed, and the rule of his authority will end. By my power I will make my people strong, and by my authority they will go wherever they wish. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
WOW!
I like the sound of that, don't you?!
So, in many ways, this old world just isn't "home" is it?
A poem I wrote on that thought:
HOMESICK
We are strangers on a lonely planet
Sinful sojourners who don't belong,
Caught between the cross and glory
Our longings for home are deep and strong.
Ransomed from death by perfect Blood
Given the chance to be re-born,
And yet we live in a sinful world
Waiting for Heaven, our hearts are torn.
We are soldiers in an occupied land
Ruled by a prince with evil intent,
Striving to win against his deadly ways
We struggle along, crippled and bent.
Now torn in two, we're not comfortable here
Yet we hear the faint strains from above,
So we live by our faith and we patiently wait
To return to God's Presence and Love.
Yes, we are pilgrims on a lonely journey
Finding ourselves barely able to cope,
But never lose sight of the prize, of the goal
And the Savior who lives – the source of our hope.
© Sharon Kirby
September 21, 2002
Yes I am lonely.
Homesick for my old home – my old town, my old friends, my old church.
Homesick for my family.
However, I hold on to this one overriding HOPE…
I will have eternity to spend with my family and friends.
We will have ALL THE TIME we want in Heaven. Whatever time apart we mourn now, will forever be wiped out in the glorious Home we will all share.
And we will never again have to say good-bye.
So, fellow sojourners, live like you don't belong here. Yearn for eternity. Walk the earth, but keep your eyes on Heaven. Remember with confidence the hope we have for the future.
One day we will return to our homeland – and we will be led in triumph by the LORD God Himself!
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Saying Good-bye |
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Hello Mountain Home! |
What is the one thing you're most looking forward to in Heaven?
Linked today with:
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYSBonnie at FAITH BARISTA
Pamela at A SHELTERING TREE
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
Oh Sharon, transitioning can be quite challenging can't it. But I love the truths you always glean from your everyday life.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. Your mountain home, looks splendid, but I know just what you are saying. Will have to think about the one thing I am most looking forward to in Heaven. Maybe, no tears, no pain, security, stability and a place to finally call home for evermore.
God Bless
Looking forward to seeing Jesus face to face in heaven :)
ReplyDeleteI kind of like the look of the new mountain home Sharon! I think what is really hard with you being homesick is that you are close to where you used to live but not close enough to go down and be part of things on a weekly basis, yet close to visit occasionally, which makes it harder I think than moving 1400 miles away from somewhere where the options of visiting aren't as available. I think that makes you be homesick over and over again after you say goodbye when you have a great time visiting your former life so to speak. I think each day it will get easier, but I know its been a rough journey indeed for you!
I do like that we are foreigners here. I am glad my eternal everlasting forever home is heaven!
betty
I appreciate your honesty, and love you so much. The poem you wrote is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThis is the truth about our true home. However this is also our training ground to become closer to Jesus. So I pray that you will grasp this chance to see Christ in those around you and be Christ to those around. May you experience joy today that only Jesus can give.
ReplyDeleteMany blessings on your journey,
Janis
This is a wonderful poem, Sharon. I'm sorry you feel sad about having to leave your former home but your new one looks very nice.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing my Savior and being with Him every day forever!!
Great post that hit me right in the heart! You know I've been feeling similarly...But it is such an encouragement to remember that we are all foreigners here and our true home is yet to come! That gives us hope as we travel through today!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Joan
P.S. Both of your homes look lovely! I'd love to see more pics of your new one as I love the mountains!!
Thank you for sharing your journey and these wonderful words of encouragement. I too have gone through similar feelings since moving to another state 5 years ago. And it does remind you that we are all foreigners in a foreign land. Great post!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I am sorry you are hurting. I imagine that happens a lot. I felt the same way when we moved here and now I love it.
ReplyDeleteYou know what - I look forward to going to Heaven - sometimes I do feel like a foreigner here!
sandie
This brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat. I can hear the longing in your words (beautifully written in poetry, too!) I think you expressed exactly why it is that I feel so "unsettled" here on this earth. It's just not home. I couldn't help but hum the song, "I Am A Pilgrim" as I read your post.
ReplyDeleteIn an earth-bound comment I will add: I'm truly sorry that you're so homesick for the old home place and family. I love your new mountain home and will be better about earnestly praying that it truly becomes your home away from Home.
And sorry to be so late getting here. I am not myself these days. I'm just really not myself.
ReplyDeleteI know this yearning; often are the times when I feel the great separation between here and forever. I long for the time of no more "letting gos". What welcome there will for us as we move home to Jesus, never to say good-bye again.
ReplyDeleteI get it, Sharon.
peace~elaine
Wow Sharon, awesome post!!! I am so much looking forward to that day, forever more living in the presence of the Lord. The sights we will see and the things we will experience will be amazing. Thank you for sharing this as it was most encouraging.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Ken
Hi Sharon, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your poem. I am going to email you about maybe sharing it on Encourage 24/7. Thank you for linking up on Winsome Wednesday and I truly pray that God will keep you so busy in your new home, with new friends and new ideas so that the homesickness goes. God bless lovely lady
ReplyDeleteTracy
Ok, having said that I couldn't find an email address here, lol. Could you email me? teekaytee2@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Tracy
I remember feeling homesick when I didn't have a home.....it's a terrible ache inside...a deep yearning that never got filled. I'm sorry it's been a struggle for you these past few months...but if the pics on your sidebar are from your new place...wow. Their brilliant pics that make me wish I was in them. I love how you used your feeling of homesickness to give the great analogy. Hugs Sharon. It'll get better.
ReplyDeleteWhat do I most look forward to in Heaven?
ReplyDeleteLight. Lightness. Never being alone again.
I loved your post and poem. Expressed how I feel so often. I'm sure many people could relate.
I had parents and four other brothers and sisters, but I remember very little about any of them. As a Christian, I have been ostrocized by my entire family. God gave me a wonderful husband and beautiful kids who know the Lord...but there is a part of my heart that is absolutely crushed when I look at families around me that actually talk to each other. I've never had guidance from a Mom or Dad, brothers or sisters, aunts or uncles or grandparents. No teachers. No friends. ( I lived in Utah where, at least at that time, Mormons would only talk to Mormons. I wasn't Mormon). Fortunately, God is in the healing business. My life began when He entered my heart. I pray that for anybody that doesn't know Him, they will let Him enter their hearts as well and begin the reconstruction that is unique to their lives.
I look forward to seeing you in Heaven! We're going to have an incredibly wonderful time...for all eternity!
God Bless You!
As a missionary I get homesick but I definitely long for my heavenly home too!
ReplyDeleteFirstly seeing Jesus. Then being reunited with my Mom and my BFF.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn @
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com
Longing and homesickness - been there, to be sure, Sharon. As a young Navy wife mom who, after two years shore duty in Albuquerque at an amazing church with amazing young mom friends, we were transfered back to the east coast for sea duty where I had to start all over again - leaving behind such a nurturing environment where my life felt normal. Suddenly, my husband was away more than he was home and I had to function like a single parent with my support group gone. I played that scene every few years until the marriage sailed off to sea permanently and I moved back to my hometown almost picking up where I left off some twenty odd years before when I'd first married and moved away. The furniture had changed - and because of who the Lord was in me now - I was changed, too. But, not without those two decades of ups and downs and moves and the recurring emotions of longing and homesick. Sharon - I feel your pain - but am so thankful for you constantly pointing to the Lord and sharing that with us all - so encouraging - hinds feet in high places . . .
ReplyDeleteJoy!
Kathy
Awwww Sharon... I get "homesick" and I knew you were ... and my, oh, my I love both photos of your homes!!! (now I'm glad that you decided to go ahead and add them:0) I knew this move left a deep longing and I can so feel your heart (like mine in so many ways).
ReplyDeleteYearning and longing for our eternal home. (sigh)
Once again, I not only love how you wrote this and that beautiful piece of poetry, but I'm so thankful that as hard as it is to adjust to changes, God is in the midst and we must believe as we wait and long that He has a greater purpose in this than your suffering, inconvenience and sentiments. But I totally get this and appreciate your vulnerability.
Though I don't think this is the post you commented on my blog about God speaking, He really was speaking to you and through you!
What is the one thing you're most looking forward to in Heaven? Seeing Jesus' face to face and meeting all of my dearest friends and family there once again! Hugging you like we've known each other forever. Hearing God's voice audibly and all the worship! No more tears, no more pain, no more loss... isn't it an endless list of I can hardly wait ... that has to be the Ultimate experiencing God's Presence, don't ya' think? I love what you have from your devotional by Chris Tiegren from the verse you shared!!! Still hoping that you add pages like you added photos. Then all that sidebar, I could read whenever... really think about it. You just keep adding to the page! I know you can do it!!! Please consider this cuz I always love what you add in your sidebar and I keep missing them.
Have a blessed weekend! And look up!(even though you're closer now and the view must be spectacular)... that's another thing I'm looking forward to... the view from God's Throne!
Awesome BLOG post! Peace and love (((hugs))) Peggy
Gotta get to church...see ya'
Oh Sharon, moving is so hard. It's been 11 years but I remember so clearly how hard it was after living in another place 19 years. How beautiful though to think about being homesick for Heaven. I want to always yearn for the day I'll be "home."
ReplyDelete