Sunday, February 24, 2019

Dearest God,

"Make your home in me," the scripture says, "Make your home in me."  O Christ, when I think of home, I think of the most joyous home where I lived, not every day, but a place that was very special to me.  I think of my grandmother's home.

Grandma's home on the farm was my happiest home.  On the edge of 80 acres, her home was the central location for my joy, love and faith.  The home was warm, except for upstairs that had no heat, where ice formed on the window sills and where my grandmother put layers of quilts on top of us, where she knelt on the old hardwood floor and prayed for each of us by name so we heard it.  Yes, it was warm in the kitchen where she sat at the antique wooden table, read her devotion and prayed, and where she cooked all our favorite foods when we came to visit.  Warm, in the front room where she played the old upright piano as long as we wanted to sing and where all of us kids, grandkids and great grandkids squeezed in for family gatherings, oh yes the house was warm with so much love and joy.

Faith was born for me in the old family home.  As I watched Grandma live what she believed, I wanted faith like hers, so much did I want it.  And it came in so many ways.

Although my grandmother's home was the very best on earth, I know our home with you surpasses even that.  When I long for home, in my mind and heart, I stop at Grandma's place first.  There I dwell for a while but then I reluctantly leave to move on to your home awaiting me as well, not just at my end time but every day where I can tarry, take up residence, sing, pray, dance, cry and live.  I breathe in your love and mercy and I am willing to be corrected, to have my course changed and my life transformed.  I allow you to clear my senses and emotions, my mind and my heart.  While there I open the door to my whole self so I can receive your love and leave behind all those things that have taken up residence inside me that keep me from rising up to you.

Yes, O Lord, make my home in you.  Your home is my all in all.

Gracious God,
no one
loves us
like you.
No home
is better
than yours.
Keep my eye
on you
and my
ears too.
Thank you
for inviting me
in and
inviting me back.
I love you.

Always, Andrea