I have been home for a few days now; the home where I grew up and lived as a child, a young girl, and left as a young woman. Just sitting at my mother’s kitchen table and reflecting on the familiarities of home bring to mind so many memories of years past. And, that’s all I have are just memories.
I went out in the early morning hour and I felt the soft breezes caress my face as I looked up and felt the warmth of the sun on my entire being. I listened and heard the song of the birds, the barking of dogs, the rustling of leaves. As I turned I looked toward the mountain and realized how clear the morning was at that moment.
And an old song came to mind. “ Just want to tell you I’m thankful for all that you have done. For the stars and the moonlight and the setting sun. And, when my work on earth is through, I’m coming home to be with you. Just want to tell you, I’m thankful that’s all.”
The tears flowed and I surrendered once more to the comfort of the Lord’s arms around my entire being. I cried tears of regret, tears of loss, tears of memories past, tears of what could have been, tears of happenings long gone and then they stopped as I remembered the words of the Apostle Paul, “forgetting those things which are behind…”
And, as I thought about that, the tears flowed all the more but this time they were tears of joy, tears of happiness, tears of peace because in the same verse the Apostle continued, “reaching forth unto those things which are before.”
Those eight words were a refreshing reminder that as long as He is by my side I can attend to what is ahead; the victories in Christ Jesus. So “when my work on earth is through” I’m going home to be with Him.
I will continue “to press toward the mark…” because I promised to serve Him many years ago and will keep to that promise and wait for His call to come home.
ritasalomon 