Welcome Home!
(an article printed in Bethel’s Connected Newsletter, May 2010 edition)
If you’ve ever been away somewhere for a long time and come home, you will know what its like to have that “Ahh… I’m finally home!” feeling. I really enjoying getting away with Sarah, and it’s always nice to visit somewhere different. We have taken different holidays over the years and visited a number of places, sometimes places that actually aren’t far away at all, just far enough. But it always feels god to get home.
It was about 5 years ago now we were talking about getting a pet, and a short time later we came home with a little puppy named “Molly”. That puppy grew into a full sized dog. Who would have guessed that was going to happen? Well the joys of that dog, besides the walks, picking up the left behinds and finding piles of golden retriever fur everywhere, is that we have a great family friend. It didn’t take us long to discover that Molly loved to have us home, and hated to see us leave. When we would leave the house she would sit by the door and wait for our return. Naturally over the years she got used to the idea that if we left, we would soon return. The assurance Molly felt allowed her to live out her day, and do whatever dogs do while everyone is away. When we would return from either a day away at work, or even a vacation over a number of days, the response from Molly was always, and has always, been the same. She would rush from whatever part of the house she was in, and greet us at the door with her tail wagging her whole body. You don’t think twice about that greeting, until it doesn’t happen.
There is something wonderful about being greeted when you arrive at a place and are made feel welcome. Today, perhaps you were greeted by someone, and made feel welcome somewhere. It’s a reminder to us to also make sure others who come across our path are made feel welcome. Have you welcomed anyone today? I look forward to the day, when I am welcomed home to eternity. I trust you also look forward to that day.
It’s just a thought.
