"Home" for Christmas

One of my favorite Christmas songs is I'll be Home for Christmas. It wasn't always my favorite, but ever since we spent our first Christmas far from familiar, it has been a favorite. By favorite, I mean like that wretched Christmas Shoes songs. It brings tears to my eyes and makes me feel all sad and weepy instead of jolly and joyous, and yet I can't stop listening to it. The line "If only in my dreams" is the line that rings loud in my ears because it's our reality. For a lot of years, we haven't been "home" for Christmas. It's been only in our dreams. And somehow it doesn't seem to matter how many years we've spent away from home, it's never easy and never fun. I suppose we have gotten used to the sting of it. I normally don't even cry anymore when we Skype and everyone is there around the tree or table...  everyone except for us. And I miss so much every year. I miss my dad's beautiful white Santa beard and hearing him tell stories of all of the kids who thought he was the real deal. I miss my momma's cooking and my siblings laughter. We laugh a lot when we're together. I miss seeing my nieces and nephews play with my kids. They're best friends. I miss my in-laws trying to figure out the clues on their gifts. I miss the smell of both mom's homes. I miss my mother-in-love's cooking. I am so thankful for all that I have to miss. I am so thankful for a wonderful family back home who loves and supports us so well.

As we find ourselves in yet another new home, with a new Christmas tree by a new window looking over a new street in a new country, there is a time of reflection. There are always the questions: Is it worth it? Does it matter? Why us? Is there even that big of a need? And the Lord simply whispers, Yes.

We have spent the last few days preparing bags of goodies for friends, neighbors, store-clerks, and teachers and filling backpacks with supplies for those sleeping in the cold, and the Lord has allowed us to have some great conversations. Last night, upon delivering a small gift of sweets to our seamstress friend who is an atheist, I had a long and hard spiritual conversation with her. She laughed in my face when I told her about the Savior who came to save the world. This is why the answer is Yes. For her. And for so many others. It matters that we are here. There have been other good conversations this week--not good in that people are awakening to the truth, but good in that God is shaking us to our core and reminding us of how incredibly lost those are around whom we live.

So, we make our home right here on this hard concrete ground. We will plant our feet and keep pushing back the darkness with words of truth and light. The Lord reminded me of this word that the former IMB president wrote to us several years ago:

But a look at the nativity scene serves to remind us that EVERYONE in it, (including the out-of-time-and-place trio from the East) has a good reason to be homesick. Not one of them was "at home." But neither is anyone among them depicted as being sad! I think that is because each of them was serving a larger purpose in the Father's great plan...and so are you!

I love this. No one is depicted as being sad. They were worshipping. They were obeying with joy. They were full of awe and wonder of the great things God had done. They were expectantly awaiting all that He would do in this little baby. They were full of love with hearts on fire. They were serving their purpose to bring glory to the Father. This is Christmas! 

So we have made every effort to make ourselves at home right here where God has us and to set our eyes on Him and our eternal home. We are striving every day to count it all joy that He would allow us the privilege of proclaiming truth and light to this beautiful people. 

We pray that you are counting it all joy. No matter where you are, we're all longing for home, our eternal home, and whatever pain or grief you are feeling this season, we pray that you will remember that Jesus came to be God with us, our Emmanuel. Count it all joy... He is sufficient.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!