by Karen Spruill
The other day I was watching a recommended movie with my adult daughter, and in the last scene the movie wife said to her husband, “You are my home.” After 52 years of marriage I was moved by the sweetness of that statement. And after 11 house moves in four states, and five dogs, I also remembered a little door hanger at home that I have used for years that simply states, “Home is where the dog is.” I don’t really feel at home until my dog comes running to me when I open the door.
Today, listening to Rivers and Robots sing, Home, my heart was truly turned to home—my true safety and security is with Jesus Christ. My thoughts then turned to words of Jesus in John 14:23, “...He who loves me keeps my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make a place of abode with him.” Then childhood memories of a painting of Jesus knocking on a door, lead me to Revelation 3:20, “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me.” * My favorite New Testament passages are in John chapters 14-17. The Father and Jesus have promised to live with me. The Spirit of truth lives with me and is in me! John 14:16,17.
Sometimes I feel like an orphan. My parents are both gone, and my aunts, uncles and many friends are gone. The old homestead was sold 10 years ago. Many things have changed when I visit where I grew up or where we lived in our early marriage years. I have lived in the same house for 27 years—that’s a record. Yet everything around us is changing very rapidly. It’s easy to lose a sense of grip and where to belong. But today, I answered a knock on my heart door and I am so thankful and grateful. As I keep God’s word, love it, savor it, delight in it—God, Jesus and Spirit want to be with me, just as I am, and make a home with me.
May I be content to consider the promises of Jesus—that within me I have the presence of Father, Jesus, and the Spirit. Precious heavenly family in me, and in my fellowship of God’s friends. Even if my loved ones are gone, and when the dog dies. I will always have a home.
Karen Spruill is a writer, counselor, and author who lives in Orlando, Florida.
*Scripture texts from Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text, George M. Lamsa’s Translations From the Aramaic of the Peshitta. Harper One, HarperCollins Publishers.