Renee Andrews's Blog - Posts Tagged "home"

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20

I grew up in a small town in North Alabama—Glencoe—population roughly 5,000. Small enough that everyone knows pretty much everyone, that there are only a couple of traffic lights needed, and that you can take a few blinks while driving through…and miss the town completely.

For the first twenty years of my life, I dreamed of moving away, living in a big city, meeting new people, experiencing exciting things that could never be accomplished in my tiny town.

Or so I thought.

For the second twenty years of my life, I lived in many cities. I started in New Orleans (quite a contrast from Glencoe, to say the least), moved to Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Atlanta, and a few other places in between. I lived in the big cities. I met new people. I experienced exciting things that couldn’t be accomplished in my hometown.

Then…I moved back home.

And I started noticing things that I hadn’t appreciated before, the beauty of small-town living, where you have relationships with people who not only know you, but they also know your parents, your siblings, your history. The neighborhoods where no one passes by without waving. The friendliness of the people at the local grocery, where it isn’t a rush to see how quickly you can move your cart through the aisles, but a tradition of visiting with friends also shopping.

This past weekend, we moved into a house in the very neighborhood where I grew up. This morning, I walked down the street to pay my water bill (yes, I can do that here), and I passed beneath the canopy of trees where I often walked with my Granny. I remembered her slow and steady gait and the way she would point out the gardens and what vegetables were growing, the pastures of cattle and horses, the bits of God’s creation that she appreciated each day. And what I appreciate now that I am back and older and…wiser.

Wiser as to what is important. Wiser as to how the less hectic life isn’t all that bad. In fact, I prefer it. And wiser in knowing that this, being nearer to my family (my parents and both of our sons live in this neighborhood too) and back near my roots, is as close to heaven as I can get on earth.

The only things missing…are the loved ones who’ve gone on to their reward. And when I see them again, then, I’ll truly be home.

This Week: Spend some time looking at photos of your youth, at the original place you called “home”. If possible, visit it again, or hey, do what I did, and move back! Think about how amazing it will be when you are really…home.

Mondays with Jesus 2017: Devotions to Begin Each Week of the Year





Renee Andrews