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.
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.
