Not Home Yet

 

NOT HOME YET
By: Joseph J. Mazzella
 

I love the story of the old missionary couple. A couple went to
Africa to serve as missionaries right after they were married. They
had planned to serve only a couple of years and then return home. They
soon fell in love, however, with the kind people they had come to
help. They stayed on year after year setting up a clinic and a school,
helping the people build a sanitation system so they could have clean
water, teaching children to read and learn, and sharing their faith
and love daily with the villagers that they cared so deeply about.
 

Finally, after over 50 years of faithful work, failing health
caused the couple to decide to come home again. They wrote to their
hometown community and church to let them know when they were coming.
After sailing several days they arrived in the port community that
they grew up in.  They smiled when they saw a large crowd cheering the
boat as it anchored. Their smiles and hearts fell, though, when they
saw that the crowd was there to cheer a local politician on the same
ship. The old man told his crying wife that he was going to ask God in
prayer why after so many years of service not one person was there to
greet them when they arrived home. He went into their cabin for
several minutes then came out with a peaceful and joyous smile on his
face. His wife asked him if God had said anything to him as he prayed.
"Yes," he replied. "He said 'You are not Home yet!'"

This is something we all should remember as we journey through
this life with all of its challenges, pains, and struggles. We are not
Home yet. Home is the place where our loving Father awaits us. Home is
the place where our true reward lies. Home is the place where the love
we learned, the good we did, and the joy we shared will reside in our
souls forever. Rejoice in your life here then. Love, help others and
be happy. The lights will be on when you get home.