Tuesday, March 23, 2010

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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this post will also be running on Wednesday at http://kjvblogs.blogspot.com/

20 comments:

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

I look forward to meeting your family in heaven. Hopefully, you and I will meet this side of eternity, but if not, then there.

Good memories; keep them close.

peace~elaine

Cindy said...

No matter how old you are, your parents house will always feels like home doesn't it? I can't wait to see my heavenly home.

Mari said...

How happy and sad at the same time. What wonderful memories must have flooded your heart. The older we get heaven looks more and more appealing. I am really looking forward to meeting loved ones in heaven. Thanks so much for sharing this today.
Hugs.

Yolanda said...

Sweetie,

I was just reading that very scripture this morning in John, as it was the first thing my Mom asked me when I led her to the Lord. Would she have her own room, and I believe with all of my heart that was the prompting of the Holy Spirit to my heart to know she was part of the family in her last few days here on earth.

Love you!

Joyful said...

Thanks for sharing your precious memories here and inviting us to dwell in an eternal home.

Love ya my friend,
Joy

Beverly said...

Thanks for the story and pic. I have so many good memories of your house also. I wish I could be there to walk through it one more time with you. I will always remember sitting on the front steps, you with your guitar, and singing. I truly believe that I owe my love of music to you. I'm not sure I would have found it without you.

Thanks so much for keeping in touch. You have meant so much to me.

Love,
Beverly

Anonymous said...

Marilyn, I makes me sad too. To bad one of the great grands can't use it, or even donate to a church as a place for youth pastors to stay.

Love Greg

Marilyn in Mississippi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Martha said...

So sweet, Marilyn. I went back to the house I grew up in this past summer. I could not believe how small it was. I thought it was a large house because all four of us kids grew up there and always had lots of company. Even the yard looked small. Am I that much bigger? (yes) but I don't think that is the reason. It's just our perception of things.

Love you so much.

Enjoying Bible Study.

Martha

Ouida said...

Marilyn, this is so bittersweet - I have tears running down my face. I miss our parents and other relatives so much who have gone on to Heaven. I'm so happy they are there though and look forward to seeing them again some day.

This is so wonderful and thought provoking you need to put it in a magazine. Thank you for sharing with me.

God Bless You and I Love You,

Ouida

Anonymous said...

You made me cry.
I have never been there, but it feels like it is part of my home, so thank you for sharing so much!

Adriene

Anonymous said...

I know what you're talking about! When I sold Mom & Dad's house it almost killed me. I still drive by from time to time just to go down memory lane. I didn't grow up in that house but had many wonderful memories of it. The parsonage in Ripley is the house I always remember growing up in. This is one of those getting older things I don't like but that's life. I'm glad for good memories. Hopefully the new family that moves in your Dad's house will make wonderful memories too! Have a good one and keep up the writing - you're good girl! Loretta

Peggy said...

Thanks, Marilyn, I know exactly how you feel. As you know, there is also a For Sale sign in the yard of my parents' house. It was sad to
lose dad but even sadder to lose mother. I still have a bunch of her
clothes. Eventually I know that I will need to part with most of them
but I am still not ready

I hope you are enjoying the nice spring weather and want you to know that you
are very special to me!

With Love,
Peggy

Evelyn said...

mixed emotions here..... I really understand.

Runner Mom said...

I loved this...needed my kleenex though! As we finish cleaning out mama and daddy's house to be put on the market in a few months, the memories are precious! It will always be my home! I am with you 100%.

Love you!
Susan

Marilyn said...

Greetings Marilyn, I just wanted
to let you know how very much I
enjoy reading your blog. I attend
the same church with Evelyn Smith
she introduced me to your blog
about a year ago. You are such
a blessing & inspiration to me
and I just wanted to tell you this.
May God continue to bless you!
Micki Hagan Austin-Newington GA

Sue said...

Hi Marilynn,
How blessed I am by reading this post, I so enjoyed reading about the home where you grew up and of your memories, and how you compared it to our home in heaven.
Just great, you have a gift for writing your thoughts, I leave tonight just being so blessed. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for visiting me and for taking the time to leave me such an encouraging word.
Blessings,
Sue

Emilie said...

I'll be there. I will tell them you are coming some day. Since I will get there before you.

Emilie

Debra said...

I have made a few trips back to old home places. Seems like the older I get the more I desire to go back, and just remember.

Like you mentioned, the good, the bad, the bittersweet.

Thanks for sharing and I too look forward to meeting your sweet family in heaven some day, along with so many of my own family members who have gone on.

What a glad reunion day that will be!

Blessings

Dianna said...

Marilyn,
I came by originally to meet a new Granmama from Tuesday's Treasures. I glanced down over your blog archive and read this post.

What a very intimate post you've left for us to read. It brought to mind some thoughts our daughter shared about the house she grew up in that was always "home" to her. We moved in it when she was six and she moved away when she was 19.

Thank you for sharing with us and allowing us to share in your precious memories.