August 6, 2021
Some people live in the same town, sometimes even the same house, for their whole life. Other people move around, some traveling even to different countries. No matter how many changes take place, there is something special about being in your hometown. There is nothing inherently special about where I grew up, unless you count famous food, but it is special to me. This is a place I want to bring my family. I want them to get a glimpse of where and how I grew up.
The saying is “home is where your heart is”. For me, and I’m sure others that have moved around, this can be multiple places. There are memories and friends in every place we have lived. There is something special about returning to a place you once lived and the friends and family in that area. It is a connection to your past and a reminder of things gone by. I want to bring my family to show them where I went to school, or take my kids to a place I enjoyed going. Though social media keeps us more connected than ever, something I have learned from a year of quarantine, it doesn't replace personal contact. It is great to see pictures of kids growing up and family vacations, but it is so much better to share a meal and spend time and enjoy conversation with the people you love and miss. In the same way, you can show your children pictures of where you grew up, but it's just not the same as being there yourself. They can't have a similar experience just looking at a picture.
Not everyone has pleasant memories of home and family. For some people, going back to certain places causes them pain and anguish as they remember an abusive or painful memory of a time in that place. Yet at the same time, it is a part of them. Even tragedy serves to change us and, hopefully, help us grow. I have mixed emotions about the first house I owned. It was a place of immense blessing as well as deep hurt. I became a mother and brought my baby girl home to that house. I also lost my husband through a painful divorce in that house. Both events served to point me to Christ and shape me into the person I am today. It is a place I will always remember.
Creating a place of remembrance was something repeatedly done in the Old Testament. In Genesis 28, Jacob had a vision from the Lord at Bethel. He made a pillar of stone to serve as a memorial in that spot. In Joshua 4, we see the Israelites creating a pillar of stone where they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. It was a memorial to help them remember the Lord's provision in bringing them into the land He had promised. In 1 Samuel 7 we see Samuel raising an Ebenezer (a stone or rock of remembrance) at the place where the Philistines were defeated. All of these instances were to serve the nation of Israel as a reminder of God's provision and protection. They were a reminder that God keeps His promises. In the same way, the places we have been and landmarks of home serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness in our own lives. That house where I brought my little girl reminds me of the many times I prayed for a baby and the joy that came when that prayer was answered. I remember the excitement of new motherhood and the mixed emotions as I watched my baby grow and learn. That is where she took her first steps and said her first words. That is also the house where I was at my lowest, not knowing what was going on, being powerless to stop the events that were unfolding. It was a place where I turned to the Lord and cried out for His strength, help, and comfort. The Lord heard my cry and saw my distress. The people of God rallied around me to help and comfort me in my anguish. Though it hurts, it is a place where I remember God's faithfulness.
Where are your Ebenezers? Where do you remember God's grace in your life? When was the last time you went home? I hope everyone has a chance to visit the people and places they love throughout their life. It is important to remember and learn from the past. We must share our past with our children and show them how we have learned from our past.