Home is Where the Heart is!
The expression, “Home is where the heart is “has not felt so tangible in a long time. When my husband and I arrived in Grenada at the beginning of August, we were both pleased to see how our daughter and son-in-law had adjusted to their island lifestyle. As we met many of their friends and participated in many aspects of their weekly routine, we both realized this has truly become their new home. Although they do not get to spend very much time together because of the demands of medical school, they are facing each day with a good attitude. They have made a wonderful life for themselves here and although it is a temporary stop on their new journey of marriage, they have bonded and are making memories here that will knit their hearts together in a special way forever.
In my 7th year of marriage, my husband and I moved out of the country to a remote island, much like Grenada. We lived in Guam for two years and those two years established for us, as a young couple, many foundational principles that we carried through the rest of our marriage. Guam was where we reignited our faith walk as a couple. We were blessed with a fantastic teaching pastor at our church. We established a like-minded community of friends and we made memories that created a level of commitment deeper than we had ever experienced. Part of that experience came from the fact that all of us were on a tiny island, thousands of miles from family. The other part came from a decision of the heart that we made to look for joy in every circumstance, take risks to try new things, meet new people, look for the blessings in every opportunity that was offered to us and commit our hearts to each other. We wanted to come to the end of our “Guam experience” with no regrets!
As we explored Grenada, I thought about how much our visit reminded me of Guam! Yes, the topography, the sounds of frogs and birds, the humidity, the foliage- flowers, greenery and palm trees, were somewhat similar since they are both tropical islands. But most importantly I was reminded of the decision of the heart that we made long ago and I saw it being repeated in the lives of our youngest daughter and her husband,
Establishing a sense of belonging can be difficult when you first get married or when you move to a new community, or you start a new season of life like having your child start kindergarten. Making new friends, adjusting to new routines, sometimes moving to a new city can bring a sense of insecurity and a feeling of aloneness. New surroundings, new schedules, new opportunities at any stage of life can all bring challenges that you were not expecting. Establishing community is vital and an attitude of the heart to face each day with eager expectation can help. So if you are settled and at peace in your heart, look for someone who may need a friend. If you are facing a season of life that has moved you away from home, be open to all the new opportunities that await you. Home is where the heart is and a committed heart can conquer difficult circumstances and find joy.
Where does your heart have a sense of peace and a feeling like “HOME”?
