My Father's House

There's a For Sale sign in the yard of my father's house now. Makes me sad somehow to know that it's empty and that it may belong to strangers before long. Daddy and Mama bought that house when I was six years old and that was "home" to me until I married when I was almost twenty. So many memories there. Many good. Many sad. A few bad. Could not resist the impulse to stop by for a few minutes today with my camera and take a few more pictures just for old time's sake.

I sat for a little bit on the front porch and thought of all the times I came and sat there as a child. I watched as a brand new church building was built not far from us in what had been a cow pasture. I watched as a new subdivision was built and streets were paved. As a teenager I would sometimes sit on the front porch on summer evenings with my friends from next door. We would talk and laugh and tell secrets until our mothers called us in for bedtime.

I walked through the carport and looked at the plaques hanging by the side door. One said ,"Welcome". And it was telling the truth! Everyone was always welcome at this house! The other said, "Leave a note." There's no telling how many notes have been left there over the years! When Daddy came home from somewhere, that's the first thing he did before going in the door....check to see if someone had come by and left a note while he was gone!

As I continued my pilgrimage around the house I saw a "Yellow Bell" bush all bloomed out. Signs of new life. AlthoughDaddy's house is technically not anybody's dwelling place right now, life does go on. Spring proves that every year!

Then I got to talking to the Lord and telling Him how thankful I was that my Mama, Daddy , and stepmom are all in heaven with Him. How the old empty house made me sad but that I was so happy that they had a better place to go! I thought of the verses in John 14 where Jesus says that he is preparing a place for every Christian in heaven. "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14: 2-3)

I enjoyed the times I spent growing up in and then later visiting in my earthly father's house. I miss him being there. But I know that I will so much more enjoy the eternity that I will spend with him and all my other saved family members in my (heavenly) Father's House one day. You can live there too! There's only one requirement: you have to be a member of God's family. The way to do that is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and become a child of God. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)

I hope to see you there!

Marilyn
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