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Home is where you run to when there is confusion outside, a place of comfort, a place to hang your heart, a place to be at peace!

Within two weeks of my husband’s unexpected passing, circumstances caused me to leave “our home” and move with family several hundred miles away. Not only was I dealing with the loss of my husband, but also a completely different lifestyle in new surroundings. Everyone involved did their best to make me feel comfortable and at home, but it was just not happening. I had such longing and desire to just go home but I didn’t know where home was anymore!

First stop

During the first eleven months of my journey, I continually searched and prayed, hoping to find that place I could truly call home – a place to hang my heart – a place to feel at peace. The majority of my time was spent with our daughter and her busy young family. I found that I was not as young as I thought! Keeping up the pace with them was difficult at this stage of my life. Even though I love them dearly, I was not finding the peace and comfort I so longed for. The pieces of the puzzle were just not fitting! I felt as though I was “visiting” and it was time to go home.

Second stop

Continuing my search, I traveled back to my childhood home to spend time with my family. During my second visit, God seemed to be telling me this might be the very place I should be. In fact, He wanted me to consider a retirement village!

Final stop

Even though age-wise I may qualify as a senior citizen I really did not think I was old enough to be a resident of such a facility. In my mind, I imagined this being the last place most folks will call home, where you are dependent on others, unable to do things on your own! (I found out later this is not always true.) The more I considered it, the more I realized that even though I would be one of the youngest residents, it offered me so much. Due to a few health issues that limit my driving, I could enjoy the benefits of a community of services and friendship all under one roof! I had already let go of many of my material possessions and now the usual home maintenance responsibilities and care would be included giving me the ability to find my purpose in the Lord!

The Lord opened many doors allowing me to make this possibility a reality.

In the short time since my arrival I have re-acquainted myself with friends I have not seen in over forty years, traveled to places, and done things I never thought possible, yet still have the privacy of my own home. It is not home like I shared with my husband for forty-eight years and represents another change on this unwanted journey, but I have a real peace about being here.

But wait, this is not the end of the story!

In my first weeks of widowhood, a friend sensed my longing to go home and put her arms around me saying, “Karen, you do have a home – Heaven is your home”. How right she was – even though I have found a new place on this earth to call home, I know that I will be finally home when God calls my name to join Him (and my husband) in heaven!

The following words were written to me after my husband’s death.

The Bible assures us that if the Lord created the heavens and earth in a matter of days, His preparation for us in heaven over the past 2,000 years will be beyond what we could ever imagine. This is our glorious hope! The prospect of seeing a dearly loved one in the future keeps this hope alive in the present.

How exciting to think about living with my Heavenly Father in a home I will never have to leave, a place of perfect peace, reuniting with loved ones forever!

Lord, continue to be with me and all my dear sisters who have a difficult time finding the right place to call home. Never let us forget that you have gone to prepare a place for us that will be our final home. Help us to keep our eyes on You until you call us home. Amen

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
John 14:2-4 (NIV)