I’ve heard people say it takes three years to feel at home somewhere. I think it takes a lifetime.
Lamp light glows from the corner of the family room, illuminating colored plastic bowls holding melted ice cream and brownie crumbs. A battlefield of celebrating seventeen scattered sideways over orange shag. She turned the lights out wearing dolman sleeves full of joy, an owl necklace smiling.
“I have some of the greatest friends,” she texted me from school earlier today.
“Yep, you do,” I texted back. “I’m thankful for that.”
God answered my prayers on the fifth year of our wandering. Would you give her friends, I asked.
Aren’t we supposed to love our neighbor as our self?
And some may find it strange that He answered with a phone call every parent hopes they won’t get. He saves her from an inch of her life in a collision with a semi and it uncorks the gift of friendship.
But it’s not strange to me. Home is where hearts huddle together and hold on for the meaning of life. And that takes more than three years, it takes a lifetime to walk each other home. For redemption to hang off your shoulder.
Linking with Lisa Jo for Five Minute Friday with the one word prompt: Home.
I have prayed that prayer for my sons so many times. That “Please? A friend?” kind of prayer and it’s only in the past year I’ve seen God answer. I am so thankful for His timing!! 🙂 Enjoyed your writing! Thanks for sharing!
I don’t take friendships, especially the heart friends, for granted any more. I’m so thankful both of my kids have those.
love that bike in those photos. the color is amazing.
i’m thankful i’ve been able to call many places home, that God has enabled me to put down those roots quickly… because i’ve lived in many places and i’d hate to think that i could only call a few of them home. instead, like i read once, each place becomes a new room in my heart… an addition to the sense of home that i’ve learned to carry with me.
I’m thankful for all the ways God used places I would’ve never chosen for myself to learn that home is truly about where I find Christ. Place informs home for me, it doesn’t define it. Perhaps that has been the hardest lesson I’ve had to learn.
LOVE this quote:Home is where hearts huddle together and hold on for the meaning of life
Because aren’t we all looking for it? The place of meaning that makes us feel like settling into an overstuffed chair by a fire. It takes a lifetime to find it.
“It takes a lifetime to walk each other home” Thinking about this today. I love what you can do with five minutes:)
Aw, thanks Kimberly. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you through the Inked incourage community. What a gift. Thank you for leading us. You and Michelle do a great job.
I look at ÿour pictures, the palm tree & the moss that I remember so well when we lived in Florida. I also recall being asked, “how are you finding it down here?” Only to be told, “it takes three years to make friends.”
We moved back to Canada after only being in Florida for two years. Sometimes I think that I feel the loneliness here more so than there.
I am grateful for this community.
Hi Celeste…I was thinking the same thing, looking at these photos. Everything heavy with moss–even the ‘grass’ looks mossy! We sure don’t have that here in Canada, do we? I’m sorry to think that you find it lonelier here in Canada than you did in Florida. I love being Canadian–not always proud of our country’s decision–, but would not trade this for another land. I have dear friends here. Not a lot of them, but I once heard that if you can count your true friends on one hand…you are rich indeed! I also ‘supplement’ my friends with those I’ve ‘met’ in the blogosphere. What a wonderful ‘community’! Just let me know if you’d like a ‘keyboard pal’ (as opposed to a ‘pen pal’.) Great friendships can be born right here, on-line.
I know how you feel Celeste. It isn’t about the place at all, its about belonging. And we can feel that standing under a tree in the middle of the desert. I think seasons of loneliness are filled with purpose. The challenge is how we respond in the midst of them. At least that is what I’ve learned anyway. Love you and sending a big hug and a smile.
Hi Shelly! Enjoyed this post! Yes, “Home is where hearts huddle together and hold on for the meaning of life”. It is–or it certainly should be–where we find the most love and unconditional acceptance. Where we should have wonderful parents who help guide us, under God’s leadership, to find our way in the world. Where we have someone who sees our needs, and prays for those needs. Like friends for a lonely daughter.
I related to your recent post where you felt “invisible” at Murielle’s Birthday party. Oh the times where I’ve felt just that way. Yet we know our daughters need us, and love us, even when they don’t dare show it in front of those friends. When you said it was Murielle’s 17th, I gasped inwardly. 😀 Our daughter’s 17th year was the absolute worst…for her…and for us! Her struggle for independence nearly did us in! We seriously thought we wouldn’t make it through! But, of course, we did. And our relationship has come full-
circle, thank God!
All of life is built on relationships. They are the foundation for everything else in life. And sometimes, when community is an empty room, we learn from the silence too. Glad to know someone else has made it through seventeen in your child’s life! Grateful for you Jillie and your great big heart.
This “Home is where hearts huddle together and hold on for the meaning of life. ” Beautiful!
Thanks Barbie, lovely to see you here friend.
Oh my Barbie that was my favorite line too… and Shelly my prayer when we moved here… would you give here friends. Man these words a a love song to my heart today.
This is one of those “ahhhh” posts.
Just felt like “home”.
Thanks Duane, what a nice surprise to see you here. It was good to talk to you today.
Shelly,
loved the post. I was thinking that Home was a feeling and not a place, but in this, “Home is where hearts huddle together and hold on for the meaning of life.” you wrote it way better than I could. loved that you jumped off the Five Minute Friday cliff (I couldn’t find the words this week), and LOVE the picture of the boxer. Is it yours?
Time for Sabbath preparations,
Chelle
I usually participate after I’ve had a night of sleep Chelle. I stayed up way too late to do it because the hubs was out of town. And no, those dogs are not mine. Some kids had them tied up while they played on a tree swing. I thought they were adorable. Hope you have a great Sabbath. Just bought my roast at the store for the crockpot. Looking forward to some rest.
Dear Shelly
We sometimes shake our heads in amazement at the ways our Pappa provides in our needs, don’t we! Yes, it takes a lifetime for us to walk together with our Lord to our eternal Home as well. Over via FMF.
Much love
Mia
Yes, I hope I never get over that . . .being amazed.
This one took my breath on a sigh… I love this and just thanking God today for your miracle…
Me too, thanking God for the miracle. I hope I never become numb to it.
“Walk each other home.” Is there any other way to get there?! How thankful I am for relationships spread across the country but connected by heart. Those connections provide the strength, the encouragement, and words of wisdom that get me from today into tomorrow and beyond. If that wasn’t enough, we have our Good Shepherd, leading us all home.
I’m thankful for those kinds of relationships too. They’ve carried me through some dark days. Glad you have them Nancy.
home is a foreign concept to us still, in some ways. although we did sign papers today to purchase this one we’re living in (!!) i love that you said it takes a lifetime. still hope for me, then, eh? 🙂
oh, and i LOVE that last pic. spanish moss and large trees just make me catch my breath. i think, even if i lived in a place like that, i would never get over the beauty.
It’s foreign to me too Kelli. We’ve moved so much and to places I wouldn’t choose for myself. But God . . . Congrats on signing the papers on your house. It makes it feel more permanent, like permission to put down roots and spread out. Yes, we live in a beautiful place and I thank God for the beauty that feels like rescue every day.
Wow, I love that, Shelly. It does, it takes a lifetime. Thank you for this beautiful share.
Thanks Amber, appreciate you stopping by.
A lifetime for sure! Love what you did here with this prompt. Beautiful words!! Enjoyed visiting your site here for a little while this still Saturday morning!
Rebekah, so glad you poked around a while. My refrigerator is stocked full of whatever you want. Help yourself. I like having visitors.