HOME

What do you think of when you think of HOME? I was pondering this question in light of Briella’s wish back in November when she was at the hospital…Go HOME, Be HOME, Stay HOME. What did HOME mean for Briella? I think home was her safe haven. When she left home her anxiety was most always higher. Coming home meant more peace and comfort. It meant being able to let go of all the things that were battling her that day and truly be herself. It was where she was loved fully no matter what. She was secure there. Being home and with her family brought Briella much joy.

One definition of home is … “Home is a safe haven and a comfort zone. A place to live with our families and enjoy with friends. A place to build memories as well as a way to build future wealth. A place where we can truly just be ourselves.”

“Home signifies where you're from and where you'll end up; it is a place in the world and a space into which you retreat from the world. Home is a setting for sustenance, where family, food, and rest are centered. It can also be a site of growth, self-fashioning and self-display—and, often, of deeply rooted conflict.”

Recently I was working on my Bible study on 1, 2, & 3 John and we were studying the word abide. We were asked to consider John 14:23. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23 KJV. Looking up the same verse in different versions we can see that another word for abode is HOME. Some symptoms for abide are…remain, stay, wait, dwell, endure, linger. God truly wants us to be at HOME/to abide in Him. He wants us to feel safe and secure, to have peace and comfort, to let go of our worries and just be ourselves, to know that we are fully loved no matter what, and to find joy.

Briella had such a strong faith. Our home in Maple Lake and then in Sioux Falls became a picture of her home/abode in Christ. Her wish to “Go HOME, Be HOME, and Stay HOME” had much more meaning than just leaving the hospital. She knew that true peace could only come from God. She lived her favorite verse moment by moment casting her care on God because He cares for her. When Briella made it home she had so much peace even though she knew that she had a brain tumor and that people die from DIPG brain tumors. God was her peace and she knew she had an eternal HOME in heaven. Briella is now HOME HOME walking the streets of gold with Jesus and talking to all the characters of the Bible and catching up with all her extended family members who went on to heaven before her.

Part of Briella’s 4th grade Imagine Poem

Looking at the word ABIDE, linger stood out to me. When we linger typically it is because we enjoy something. This just made me look at my favorite verse in a whole new way. “Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations.” Psalm 46:10. Being still involves lingering, enjoying being with God. When I think of all the reasons HOME was where Briella wanted to be, the more I understand “being still” with God. If He is my safe haven, my peace and comfort, who I can truly be myself with, who loves me fully no matter what, and where I find joy…why would I choose to leave. I will be still and make my abode with Him. Why look anywhere else? And I look forward to heaven someday when I will see my Savior and my precious girl.

Until that day I will abide and be still with God. His presence with me is what I need most. Looking back through Briella’s Caring Bridge this quote from Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker so stood out again… “You may not get the miracle you ask for, but you always get the miracle you need: God is with you.” All I need to do is be still and realize His presence. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. He is with me in all the craziness of life but so many times I need to ABIDE, to be still, to linger with Him and be reminded of His presence and His promises.

Firsts

Six Months