Today I had the honor and privilege to share part of my "How I found my home" story with my church family along with several others on the creative team. Naturally, when I'm about to share part of my story the enemy tries to counter with all his lies and never ending attempts to destroy my joy.
Anyone who has read my blog before knows the gist of my story so I'm not going to go into it with this post. In fact this post has a lot more to do with the beauty that has come from the all the pain and darkness of my past.
As I thought this week about having a home and "being home," I've realized that I truly am HOME.
This idea of HOME has always been a rough area for me. I never felt like I belonged in the places I grew up in. I never felt like I was a welcomed part of my family. And we moved apartments so often that I never felt stable. Being a grown up now, I can understand there was probably many adult reasons for all the moving but as a child I just assumed we didn't have a place we belonged. And as I spent most of my 18th year homeless and uncertain of what my life was to become it was only solidified that I had no place to call HOME.
I certainly didn't agree with the concept of "no place like home" because I had never experienced having a place or even people that felt like HOME to me. Until one God directed evening when I met the woman who led me HOME.
HOME. I walked into the doors of this new church and my spirit knew it was HOME. Of course the next few years I struggled to understand exactly what a HOME was and how I fit. But the truth is that I was loved in this new HOME and I was accepted with all my junk and all my flaws. I met a few more people and I joined a Life Group and these people slowly became my family.
*Side note: I don't mean to diss on my biological family because they do they best they know how to do or are able to do. But I never knew the type of love from them that I got from these strangers who loved me like God loves me. I believe my family has many evil spirits upon it and they don't know how to fight them, they simply give in to them. Maybe one day I'll get my biological family back but for now I miss them, I pray for them and I do the best I can to forgive the hurt I feel from them.*
HOME. After spending seven months in a Christ-centered treatment program for all the junk I was dealing with, I came HOME. This new family of mine welcomed me back with open arms and homes. They encouraged me on my journey and they supported my goals. And to this day they continue to show an interest in who I am becoming and they encourage me on my journey. This is my HOME.
When I go back to places I used to live, I don't feel this sense of HOME. I get the "no place like HOME" vibe now when I return to this city I had never heard of until I lived in it. I am so beyond blessed to finally have a place to call HOME and to have such incredible, loving people fill my HOME. Seven years ago, I would have never imagined the sense of HOME I now have. And I am overwhelmed by the fact that God has gone before me and He knows my path. If it weren't for a group of people twenty years ago I wouldn't have my HOME. God was creating my family before I even knew I would be without the one I grew up with.
Today I am well aware of the fact that I have a HOME and that I am welcomed and loved beyond anything I could have dreamed of. My God is so gracious and loving and He blesses me more than I could ever think possible!
