A Forever Home
Do you like to watch HGTV? Most of you probably know that I do, and that my husband doesn’t really like for me to watch it. Why? Because he says that all it ever does is give me ideas for another project we can do in our house. He thinks the three most dangerous words he hears are “we could just,” because they are usually followed by “move a wall,” or “tear out the pantry,” or “rearrange the furniture,” etc. I’m really not that bad!
Lately when I have watched that channel, I’ve noticed a fairly new phrase I hear while young couples are searching for a house. They may not say it right at first, but somewhere while they are going through the houses a realtor or contractor has picked for them to look at, you will hear them say, “this is going to be our forever home.”
Now, I know what they mean and so do you. They mean that they plan to live in that house all of their lives, raise a family there, and grow old together in that spot. However, as mobile as our society is, I’ve often wondered why anyone would think they are going to live in one spot for the rest of their life.
My other question is, why do they call it a forever “home,” and not just a “house?” After all, they are looking at the foundation, roof, windows, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage, laundry, plumbing, heat and air, exterior curb appeal, and the list goes on and on. That sounds like a house to me.
Do you ever think about the difference between a house and a home? Jim and I have been married almost 51 years. We have had seven houses in three states and four towns during those 51 years. I’m not even counting the first little apartment we had while we finished college. Now, that may seem like a lot to you, but when you’re married to a preacher, and you like to fix up and decorate houses, that’s what happens.
But they were houses. They were made of lots of different materials. Some were large and some were tiny. Some were fairly new, while others were well-worn and in need of some Donna love. Some had been maintained very well while others were almost dilapidated and needed major repairs. None of these in and of themselves were homes. They were merely houses.
Jim and I established only one earthly home, and it was not made out of any of the building materials which made up those houses. On March 21st, 1970 we established our home when we promised each other, in God’s presence, to be devoted to each other (with God as the third partner) for the rest of our lives. Two children were born into our home and it became a home of four. We made every effort to raise those children as faithfully and lovingly as we were able to do. Our goal was to help them have their own faith in God based upon His word, and aim them toward heaven.
We now live in a house that is smaller and requires less upkeep. It is great for us and we thoroughly enjoy it. When both of our children and their families lived in other towns away from us, they would occasionally call and say, “we thought we might come home this weekend if you and dad aren’t busy.” Neither one of their families had ever lived where we do, but they wanted to come home. Home to them was wherever we were.
Home is a relationship of love and understanding. It is where you feel cherished and needed. It’s not the dwelling you seek when you are injured physically or emotionally, it’s the people who care about you and are there to lift you up.
Sometimes even a home like that is not a forever home. There may be obstacles that get in the way of that home remaining in existence. There are physical and emotional reasons that cause some homes to suffer or be destroyed. Satan loves to see that happen.
There is only one forever home we should seek. It’s really the only one that matters in the end.
“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:2,3)
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AUTHOR: Donna Faughn
