On the Road (10/04/2025)

This morning, my daughter, Kendra, and I head home to Wisconsin. We’ve been on the road since this past Monday when we drove to Sioux City to visit my 95-year-old mother, my two siblings who still live in Sioux City, and numerous nieces and nephews. It has been a jam packed five days. But this morning, we load our suitcases full of less than fresh clothing, our bags of purchases from here, our big drinks, and our memories and we are heading home.

Days on the road make me love home more. Truth is, I am a rut person. At home, I have everything where I want it. I know where everything is.  It seems that no matter how much time I plan ahead for these on the road days, there is something I need that I don’t have, but I can tell you exactly where it is at home, 500 miles away.

At home, if I want some mystery in my life, I watch a movie and try to solve the murder. Mystery is not something I want in my bedroom when the lights are out and there are noises I can’t identify.  Mystery is definitely not something I want when I’m in the restroom at an upscale restaurant and there’s no clue as to where the toilet paper is hidden because it clearly isn’t in my stall.

While there have been many things about the last several days that fully proved that I could make it outside my comfort zone, there have been many things that have made the trip worthwhile like conversations with my mother and other relatives, long conversations with my daughter while we made our near 500  mile trek last Monday, connecting with the next generation of family and coming to know them. And I met some very interesting people in the hotel garden in the mornings with my coffee.

This morning, as I sat out in the hotel garden area, I gave thanks to the LORD for family, for opportunities to spend time with them, for the means to make the trip, for the convenience of modern hotels and restaurants for travelers. And I asked the LORD for safe travel home to where I truly want to be. I miss my husband. I miss my home. I miss my neighbors.

Then I thought of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And I realized that while He assumed our human nature and dwelt among us, He was “on the road.” Even our best spots here on earth are not “heaven.” I thought of all He endured for us so that we could have life and have it in abundance with Him at home in heaven. And I found myself so very grateful for all Jesus is and for Jesus has done and for all Jesus has taught me about being “on the road” and about home.

As we continue our journeys of faith, hope and love, let us remember every step of the way while we are “on the road” that Jesus calls us to come home where the Father will welcome us warmly. And if we find ourselves needing anything, let us turn to our LORD, Jesus Christ, who will understand because He’s been here and He knows.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.